John 21- What a simple life...

I’ve been contemplating, and even at times frustrated with being “content”. Yet these past few months it’s been quite amazing because of the times I’ve spent with God, He has shown me life should be simple. In other words, how we apply what we learn about God should be simple.

In John 21, Jesus encounters the disciples for the third time after his resurrection. It is at this time that the disciples are still someone raw from the events that just passed. However to calm their aching hearts from missing Him, Jesus reappears when they go fishing. The essence of this story is beautiful. The disciples are fishing, all day & all night, yet they catch nothing. They’re tired and weary from a full day & night’s work. Jesus all of sudden comes into the picture, being God he knows their labor, and yet still asks them, “Children do you have any food?”. Probably not really grasping it was God himself speaking to them, they answer no. One disciple did notice something peculiar, and dived head first into the ocean to swim to Jesus.

After this Jesus suggests that they put their nets to the right side of the boat. After doing so, they caught so many fish, it was almost impossible to pull the net up. When they finished with counting & packing the fish, Jesus waits for his disciples with a ready camp fire, fish, and bread, right in time to announce ‘it’s time for breakfast!’

What a simple gesture of love. Although we may toil day-in and all night-out to accomplish the things we may believe are of utmost precedence, God announces to us, what have you really accomplished for me? Have your motivations brought you any edification, or fruit? If not, it’s time to turn to me. Simply, I can call the fish, and they will come. I can give you rest, and you will be made whole.

Our God is a simple God. He desires for us to receive great things, but ultimately, he calls us back into retrospect in order for us to gain balance in life, and to look back and see, no matter what situation we face, day or night, He can provide. And even after he provides an abundance, he can still provide the small necessities in life as well like a warm campfire.

No matter how “simple” we may see our blessing may be. The complexity of God’s merciful and loving nature will be something we won’t ever be able to comprehend. However, his mercy and love is always abundant and available for all to receive. That in itself is simple enough.

~Christina

Update on my co-worker's back.

Basically nothing happened for him. He did get better but he got better progressively and I don't think he appropriately appointed the healing to God. Or maybe he did I don't know. He's Catholic and his mentality is whatever happen happens in accordance with God's will. We really have no role in what happens. That really discourage me and I kinda gave up on him since he has very minimal pain now and pretty much can function normally. I really shouldn't have talked to him and let him brought me down. Lesson learned!

Someone else got healed though! K, a good friend of mine went to the east coast last week and came back with a cold or something. Coughing heavily for more than a week. I would always know where he is in the office because of his cough. He also had lot of phlegm and sore throat. K said the symptoms had been progressing for about a week and was not showing any sign that he's getting better. Anyhow, we went to the gym and do our business there. I commanded the sickness to leave, the virus and bacterias to that's causing the cold to die, and spoke strength into his body. K woke up the next morning and he said he woke up surprised by how much better he felt and how much strength he had in his body. He said today he felt 80% better, whereas the day before there were no sign of recovery. I firmly believe that he'll be 100% better by tomorrow morning. I guess there is a cure for the common cold after all. Praise God!

-An D.

LUKE 9:7-9 The Importance of Preaching the Gospel

[Saturday Nights at Selah with Phillip Ma]

Last week, we looked at a profile of the Christian messenger.  In studying the twelve apostles first call to missions work, we observed how we, as believer should preach the gospel.  Not only how to preach the gospel but how to do it well.  But the failure of the modern church today is the very little gospel preaching it does.  As believers, how many of us really do a good job evangelizing?  How many of us consistently, constantly and continually tell people about Jesus?  I’ll be the first one to admit that I don’t. 

But why not?  Why don’t we tell the gospel to people?  Well there are a number of reasons: we are so busy and caught up with our own things, we think we don’t have time for it.  We don’t care too much about sharing the gospel with other people.  Many times, we’re scared or a little embarrassed to witness.

But let me tell you another reason…we don’t think it works too often.  We don’t think it works that much.  Many times, we think sharing the gospel is a waste of time because it never really works.  No one ever believes.  They mostly laugh or just brush it off.  Every time I try, I crash and burn.  So we kind of lose hope and faith in the power of the message.

But is this attitude correct?  No.  Is sharing the gospel a waste of time?  No.  To have that kind of thought is to directly question the judgment of God.  God has chosen preaching the gospel as the vehicle through which a person can believe in Jesus and go to heaven.  We are commissioned to that and do that only.  That’s it.  There is nothing else.  So to believe it doesn’t really work is to not trust God.  And we don’t want to do that.

So why should I preach the gospel?    Besides the fact that God commands it, why should I preach the gospel?  To put it another way, why is it vital for believers to preach the message of salvation?  Though it seams hard and often a waste of time, why is it important that Christians share the gospel?

Well we’re gonna try to answer that tonight.  As you may recall, Jesus has sent his twelve disciples out on their first missions trip.  The twelve that Jesus took aside for intensive training and teaching are now on their first assignment.  He sends them out to preach to the entire area of Galilee.  We’re about 18 months into Jesus’ three year ministry and Jesus is about to leave this northern area to travel to other regions and eventually on down to Jerusalem.  So before he leaves Galilee, he wants to make a final mega outreach campaign.  He wants to save as many people in this area as possible before he leaves.  Now because Jesus does not have enough time to cover every city and town, he sends out the twelve telling them to preach the kingdom and heal the sick.  To essentially do what he’s been doing the past year and a half.

So in Luke 9:6, we read that the twelve “departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.”  It says they ministered “everywhere”.  They preached in every city and every town of that region.  There was not a place that was missed.  Now during his campaign, at least one or two of the twelve entered the city where King Herod lived.  Herod Antipas was king or what was called tetrarch over the northern area of Galilee and the eastern area of Perea.  He may have been the son of Herod the Great, the one who killed the babies when Jesus was born.  Though he was called King Herod, he was still under the power of Rome.  So he couldn’t do anything he wanted, he still had to be under Rome’s dominion.  Nevertheless, he was still very powerful politically and ruled that area for most of Jesus’ life.  Anyway, one or two of the twelve hit Herod’s city with the gospel.  He preached the gospel, healed people, and may have casted demons out of some people.  Eventually, news of what was happening reached the palace.  People in the palace started talking about how these guys were sent by a man named Jesus who was doing and saying all this crazy stuff throughout the land.  In time, the works and ministry of Jesus landed in Herod’s ear.  So lets read what happens to Herod when he hears kingdom message Jesus was preaching.  Lets turn to Luke 9 and we’re going to read verses 7-9.

Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by Him; and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again. Herod said, "John I have beheaded, but who is this of whom I hear such things?" So he sought to see Him.

The gospel has great potential.

           

Why should we tell others about Jesus?  Though it seams hard and often a waste of time, why is it important that Christians share the gospel?  For one thing, the gospel has great potential.  The gospel message has the ability to reach any person.  The life and ministry of Jesus can impact any person: rich, poor, old, young, important, not so important.  People from all walks of life are never too far from the kingdom message.

           

Up to now, Jesus has been ministering in the outskirts of the nation.  Today, it would be like someone living and teaching in Bakersfield.  Away from the LA, OC, the capital.  An small insignificant area of the country.  Up to now, he has impacted the lowly of society.  Fishermen, prostitutes, tax collectors, a centurion once in a while but no one of great importance. 

But eventually, Jesus’ life and ministry trickles all the way up to the most powerful man in the area.  King Herod himself.  The gospel has great potential.  It has the ability to go anywhere and touch anyone.

I heard a story once of a pastor named David Choi who was a Korean American pastor who does a lot of inner city ministry work in Chicago…  He was able to meet Michael Jordan, shake his hands and say “God bless you”.

Adam Baldwin is famous celebrity who got saved a few years ago and is now on fire for the Lord…

The gospel has great potential.  It has the ability to reach any person…rich poor famous or not so famous.  Let me tell you something else, the gospel has the ability to reach even the worse sinners.  King Herod was an extremely immoral man.  He was a horrible sinner.  He comes from an immoral family.  His father murdered hundreds possibly thousands of innocent babies.  As for Herod, let me tell some of the things he did: he had an affair with this brother’s wife Herodias.  Not only did he have an affair with his brother’s wife Herodias, he lusted after Herodias’ own daughter so much so that cut off John the Baptist’s head because of her.  He was not a good person.  Yet the gospel reached even him.

Now you might say I live in a bubble and will never have an opportunity to meet people like that.  I’m never going to meet Michael Jordan or be exposed to hardened sinners or criminals.  I’m never going to take the gospel that far up.  If you completely commit and surrender to sharing the gospel, how do you know God won’t take you there?  Do you think Billy Graham, when he committed his life to serving God think he was going to be praying for Presidents of the United States?  No.  He offered his life to God and God took him there.

The gospel has great potential; it just needs people to faithfully share it.

The gospel stirs up hearts.

Not only is it important for Christians to share the gospel because it has great potential, but also because the gospel stirs up hearts.  Once the gospel is truly heard, a person will be deeply stirred over the person of Jesus.  This message we preach pierces souls.  It is the sword of God’s spirit that cuts into the hearts of people.

Luke says that when Herod heard of all that was done by Jesus, was perplexed.  The actual Greek means he was greatly perplexed.  He was at a loss for words.  Because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead and by some that Elijah had appeared and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again.  Herod was not just hearing about Jesus he was hearing about what others thought of Jesus.  Some said he was the second coming of John the Baptist.  Some said he was like Elijah.  Others said Jesus was like one of the other OT prophets like Moses or Samuel.  So Herod was at a complete loss for words.  All he could say was “who is this?”  Who is this that says he’s been sent from God?  Who is this that raises people from the dead?  Who is this that invites people to be part of God’s kingdom?  Upon hearing the gospel message, Herod’s heart has been sifted and shaken from the inside out.  All he can say is “Who is this?”

One day when we’re in heaven it might be surprising to find out how many rich, famous, powerful, or even friends we know have had the hearts stirred or shaken up by the gospel message.  We will be shocked to find out how many people have asked Herod’s question within their own hearts.  “Who is this Jesus?”  Who is this man that says he can forgive sins and take people to heaven?  Is he real?  Is what he says true?  Even the critics.  Even the ones who are so expressly anti-God and anti-Christian.  You know that if you throw a brick at a pack of dogs, the one that barks the loudest is the one that got hit.  Well perhaps the reason why some are so loud their objections to Christianity is because their hearts have been hit hard with the gospel message.

The gospel stirs hearts.  But you see we must preach the gospel before it can stir people’s hearts.

Now, I do admit that sometime it seems that the gospel message just goes over a person’s head.  You talk to someone about Jesus and they say wow that’s great.  Cool.  That’s a really good idea.  No emotional response whatsoever.  It seems like you threw the ball way outside strike zone.  Well, we don’t truly know what’s in a person’s heart.  They may seem completely uninterested on the outside but it might be a different story deep inside their heart.  Also, they may just need more time for their hearts to hear.  Sometimes, it might take more than spending five minutes sharing the gospel.  We might have to witness over and over again.  We may have to demonstrate evidence of the gospel in our own life before the words actually sink in.  It seems like the disciples got instant results when they preached.  But they doesn’t always happen.  We sometimes need to learn a little patience.

Stirred hearts long to know more about Jesus.

Why is important that Christians share the gospel?  Because the gospel has great potential.  Because it can stir up hearts and stirred up hearts long to know more about Jesus.  A person who has been shaken up over Jesus greatly desires to find out more about Him.  A heart cut by the Word of God will hunger to know more about him.  A pierced soul will day after day seek to discover the person who did the piercing.

In verse 9 Herod again poses the question to himself  “John I have beheaded, but who is this of whom I hear such things?”  So he sought to see him.  With the gospel reaching all up to him in his palace, with his heart completely stirred up, King Herod deeply desired to meet this man he had heard so much about.  An open exposed heart now needs to be filled. 

When I was a kid, I used to get and buy those chocolate Easter bunnies during Easter.  You know those little bunny statutes made entirely of chocolate.  Now it depends on what you get.  If you get a good one, it is a solid chocolate bunny inside out.  But if you get a cheap one, when you break off the head or leg to eat you find out it’s completely hollow inside.  And you’re like what a jip. 

When the gospel cuts open a person’s heart, he realizes perhaps for the first time the emptiness inside of him.  He realizes he is not rock solid inside.  He realizes he is not as fulfilled as the thought.  He is empty.  And he now seeks to fill it.

Now I will say this.  Herod never believed.  He spent one and half years trying to meet this man Jesus he had heard so much about.  And when he finally met him during Jesus’ trial, he mocked and rejected him.  What?  He never believed.  He went through all this and he never believed.  A person can go through all this and still not believe?  Yeah.  But you see that’s not my job.  It’s not much job to cause a person’s heart to believe.  That portion belongs to the Holy Spirit.  It is the Spirit that gives a person faith to believe.  The Spirit turns the hearts of men to God.  If preaching the gospel were that mechanical would never need or depend on the Spirit.

Conclusion

Why is it important for Christians to share the gospel?  Because of its great potential to reach any person.  Because of its ability to stir a person’s heart.  And because that stirring will result in a longing for Jesus.

2 Samuel 17:23 The Power of Christ

2 Samuel 17:23

When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his house in order and then hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father's tomb.

Some background on this story, Absolom is King David's son. He is a rebellious son trying to kill his father to take over the throne. Ahitophel is Absolom's counsler, and wanted to inform Ahitophel of David's whereabout. However, Absolom was not going to listen.

"When Ahitophel realized Absolom was not going to take his counsel, he knew David would eventually return to power, and that he would be hung as a traitor... It has been said that bitterness is like swallowing a bottle of poison, and waiting for the other person to die. David doesn't die in this story. Ahithophel does.

 Like Ahithophel, Jesus came to us with wise counsel. Ahithophel saddled an ass. So did Jesus. Ahithophel rode into the city. So did Jesus. Ahithophel put his household in order. Jesus went to the Upper Room and gave instructions to His disciples. Anhithophel hanged himself. Jesus went willingly to the Cross, where He, too, hung for you and me. Ahithophel was buried in a sepulchre. Jesus was placed in a sepulchre. But, unlike Ahithophel, Jesus rose again.

I might have reason to be upset or bitter. But I can either be hung up by my bitterness, or I can see that Jesus took the reason for my bitterness upon Himself. We need not be bitter with anyone because Jesus understands our hurt, and it killed Him. Happy indeed is the man whose sins are forgiven (Romans 4:7), not only the sins he's committed, but also the sins committed toward him. The gospel frees us not only from our own sin, but also from the sin round about us. And I'm so glad."

-Jon Courson (Excerpt borrowed from Application Commentary: Old Testament")

Co-Worker's Sudden Back Pain

Around noon time yesterday, one of my co-worker left work early. I was working then I turned around and noticed he was very slowly limping out. I chased after him and found out he had severe back pain. I escorted him to the car then offered to pray for him. He was very receptive and allowed me to lay hand on his back and prayed for him.

I shot and missed. As of this morning, he's still in pain. Isn't to say he can't be healed though.

Right after I prayed for him, he went straight to the doctor's office and took X-rays of his back. He's getting back his results soon. If you're reading this you should pray for him. His name is Manuel.

===============================================

Update on my other co-worker whom I also had a chance to prayed for, which was a shot and hit. He was actually completed healed, which opened the door for me to talk to him about God/Jesus. He's your typical engineer and is very analytical when it comes to anything, including spiritual things, which is impossible to comprehend without faith. But that's OK, it'll just take time.

-An D.

1Timothy 2:1-8 “Let The Church Pray!”

[Anh Thanh's Sunday Morning Message]

We are ambassadors for the Lord. The church and US.

Greg Laurie, Chuck Smith, David Yonggi Cho, David Wilkerson, etc… these men were used in different areas of the ministry, and they possess different gifts and talents.We can come to one conclusion. What is it that makes them so effective? They all pray! For effective ministry to occur, we need prayer.

James brings to light the importance of prayer. He gives an example of Elijah the prophet, what did he do?

-          He prayed and fire fell from heaven.

-          He prayed, and God shut the heaven, and there was no rain for 3 years.

-          He prayed again and it rained!

We may think Elijah is a super prophet, special, no one else on earth is like him. But James talks about Elijah as though he was just a man like us. He has the same passions, weakness, he’s just like us. Its not how much, but how powerful God works through prayer. It’s not how powerful Chuck Smith, Greg Laurie, or David Wilkerson is, but it is how powerful God is when he moves through them. This can happen when they pray.

How powerful can God move when the church prays? In the book of Acts, when the church prayed, the holy spirit fell down on the people. When the church prayed, the ground shook, and chains fell off the servants!

Since WWII, there was a wall that separated east and west Germany. Many tried to escape. However some believed in the power of prayer. There was only a small number, so they met underground, then they grew into a great sanctuary that the numbers grew to 2000 people. People continued to pray. And they prayed for peace. 10,000 people gathered just to pray. It became so crowded that they had to block the nearest offramp to the city, because so many people were traveling there to pray. It was late at night, but people were coming together to pray. October 9^th 1989, May. The wall that stood the test of time, came down. Atheists may say it was a coincidence, but I say, it was God moving in the midst of his people. If great masses of people are unified in prayer, things would change. Souls would be added into the kingdom.

LET THE CHURCH PRAY.

1 Timothy 2:1-8
 ¹I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— ²for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ³This is good, and pleases God our Savior, ⁴who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. ⁵For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time. ⁷And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.
 ⁸I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.

Paul’s instruction to Timothy was to pray. First, the most important thing when gathering together, is to have people pray. A vibrant and soul winning church is one in which people PRAY. We desire for God’s blessing on our church, but we are lacking prayer. As a preacher, I know the power of prayer, but I guarantee you I spend more time researching, practicing on my guitar, reading, and that’s why my message is boring, and there’s no power. My time is not committed to prayer.

We cannot neglect the importance for prayer, and how it can affect our lives.

Ex. A pastor once said about his congregation, when I announce a banquet  or potluck, people would come out from their wood working to attend. But when I announce prayer, I would be lucky if my ushers came.

Isnt that the condition of our church today?

PRAYER IS OUR PRIVELEDGE AND OUR OPPORTUNITY.

We can have the power be like the great men which I name earlier. We have the opportunity to avail ourselves to be used by God.

IT’S AN OBLIGATION

If we want power, we’re going pay the price. We have to get of the bed, put things aside to pray. Above and beyond all other things, set things aside and begin to pray.

THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PRAYER
Supplication prayer, prayers, intercessions, and giving thanks be made for all men.

Supplication is a lack of something. When you go to the lord and ask him to supply your needs. Coming to the Lord and asking him, and telling him our needs

Prayer is communication to God. This is not something to be taken lightly. Communion takes place WITH God. We can share with him how we feel. It speaks about our heart of love. God is our audience. Ex: Mathew coming to me and saying “come eat dad”. It’s a different kind of experience when you are speaking to God. You don’t need to ask God for things all the time, he already knows what you need. God rejoices in us when we just appreciate him for who he is.

The highest form of prayer, is to appreciate others. To sympathize (feeling other’s hurt & pain). When the holy spirit intercedes for us. He intercedes for us day & night. The holy spirit is falling in WITH us. He understands our needs.

When we have compassion for someone, and you love someone, your prayer for them is not cold. You pray with fervency, fire, and zeal. This is what intercession is!

When Elijah prayed for rain, he was praying for Israel. He knew the time had come, and God would send rain. He went up to the top of the mountain. He put his head to his knees, it’s stance of a woman giving birth. The passion, and energy, to pray for others.

Charles Spurgeon “ if you want to bring souls to heaven, you have to pray first!”

GIVING THANKS! Thank God for the things in your life. Thank God for who he is, and for the fellowship you have in him.

THE OBJECT OF PRAYER

Its made for all men.

We often are stuck on our “NEEDS”. But it’s time for us to see beyond our needs. We cant forget the churches next to us, Vietnam!, Harvest Crusade. We don’t need to be in Vietnam to pray for someone, but we can be in our closet and pray for the people there.

There is no MAN on earth who is greater than those who influence us to pray. Poor, rich, close, far, near, kings, authorities, PRAY for these people. Ex. Because we recognize the office of those in authority such as Obama, some may not agree with him, but we need to pray for him regardless. 

When we pray for others, this is so that we may live a peaceful life. This creates calmness within the heart!

It is better to pray for people who are in charge to lead us.

To break through we need to pray!

THE REASON FOR PRAYER

Why should I pray anyways? BECAUSE IT PLEASES GOD!!

I just want to pray because I want to be a vessel that God uses to make things happen.

Why we come to pray, to do things, it’s because we are to please God!

WHAT KIND OF PRAYER PLEASES THE LORD

God desires that all men should be saved, and he desires that they all know the truth. This is consistent with God’s character. “Turn to Me and be saved!”

2Peter 3:9 
God is merciful and patient, desiring that all men should be saved.

The more we bathe ourselves in the word of God, we will know what pleases God and what doesn’t please him.

With focus and with unity, the spiritual chain will be broken!

There is an added strength when we come together and pray.

LET THE CHURCH PRAY.

Luke 9:1-6 A Profile of a Christian Messanger

[Anh Viet's Saturday Night Bible Study]

I have a brain teaser for you.  Well hold on.  First of all…heaven.  Heaven is perfect.  Heaven is glorious in every way.  Everything in heaven is a million times better than everything here.  You and I will be a million times better in heaven than we are here now.  But did you know that there is one thing you can’t do in heaven.  We are can in heaven a million times better than we can here.  But what is the one thing no person can do in heaven?  What is the one noble godly thing that can only be done on earth and never be done in heaven?  Well lets think this through.  Why are we still here?  Why are we Christians still hanging out here on earth instead of being in heaven?  Why doesn’t a person, at the moment he prays the sinner's prayer go immediately to the presence of God?  Because really isn’t it better in heaven?  Think about it.  Are we gonna sing better here or in heaven?  Is the music going to be played better now or in heaven?  Isn’t An going to be more musically talented in his glorified body?  Hopefully.  Aren't I going to preach better once I’m up there.  Of course.  And what else?  Everything.  I won’t sin.  I won’t be frustrated or stressed out over every little thing.  I’ll be better looking and in better shape than Vinny. I’ll walk better with God. So with all those benefits why aren’t we there now?

One thing.  We’re still hanging around here for one reason and only one reason.  To make Christ known.  I am not in heaven for one simple purpose…to tell others about Jesus.  That’s it.  God puts up with me, my imperfections and my goofups for only one thing.  Not to hear me sing badly.  Not to have me fall asleep when I’m praying in the morning.  Not to totally mess up in my Bible interpretations.  I’m here to preach the gospel.  That’s it.  Nothing else. Think about it.  Everything else, I can do and do better in heaven.  There’s only one thing I can’t do in heaven and that’s to tell sinners condemned to hell that there is a way to heaven.

It’s NBA playoffs.  Every team has one purpose and one singularly focused goal.  To win a championship.  We have one goal. One sole pursuit.  To proclaim the message of God’s kingdom.  That’s the Great Commission.  That’s what Jesus, before ascending, commanded us disciples to do.  Preach the gospel.

Now if that’s it.  If that’s our whole thing.  If that’s the reason for our earthly existence.  It would probably be a good idea to know how to do it don’t you think?  If that’s my job, I should know to do it well.  I should know how to most effectively, clearly and powerfully proclaim God’s gospel message.  Right? So how do we do it?  How should Christians preach the gospel?  How do believers best deliver the message of Jesus Christ?  Well I need to find people dedicated to sharing the gospel and follow them.  I need to look at people who preach the gospel and do it well in order to model after them.  That’s what we’re going to do tonight.  We’re going to profile a group of Christian messengers.  We’re going to take a look at how a few commissioned guys went about delivering the message of God’s kingdom and hopefully learn something.

So we’re in the Gospel of Luke.  Still continuing in the book.  Just changing the teaching format.  Up to chapter 9, Jesus has been ministering in the northern area of Galilee.  He hasn’t really been anywhere else.  He’s been teaching, healing, casting out demons, calming violent storms and forgiving sinners.  Because of all the amazing works, Jesus starts to gather a large following.  One day, out of the large following people, Jesus picks out 12.  These guys are put through an intense training and instructional course.  The goal is that hopefully one day, these 12 can take over Jesus’ ministry.  So for about 1 to 1.5 years, these guys are sitting and learning at Jesus’ feet listening to him and observing him minister.

Jesus now is almost done with his Galilean ministry.  He knows it’s about time for him to move on down to Jerusalem.  So with that in mind, Jesus needs to do some heavy duty outreach campaigns throughout that northern area.  The problem is he can’t hit every place.  He doesn’t have enough time to preach to every city and town in the Galilean area.  So he decides it’s time to send these 12 guys out.  It’s time to send them out and see what they can do.  So we have here the 12 apostle’s first assignment.  Their first missionary trip.  It was probably a short trip but still the first one.  Here is the first time the 12 are called and commissioned to deliver the message Jesus had been preaching.  So lets turn to Luke 9 and I’m going to read verses 1-6.  Luke 9:1-6.

Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. And He said to them, "Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece.
"Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them."
So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.



How do Christians preach the gospel?  We have only one job here on earth.  So how do we do it effectively?  How can Christians preach the gospel well?


I.  Christians preach the gospel well when they have divine power and authority.

First of all, Christians preach the gospel well when they do it with divine power and authority.  As messengers of God, we are given certain rights and abilities.  These help authenticate the message we’re trying to deliver.  When godly heavenly evidence accompanies me, telling people about Jesus will travel far deeper into a person’s heart.  When I have divine proof that what I am saying is the real deal, it no longer is a joke or fantasy to people, it becomes true.  And truth is powerful.

Here is verse 1, before sending them out on their missions trip, Jesus empowers the 12 with power and authority over demons and diseases.  As you probably know, Jesus did a lot of healing and exorcising.  Probably because in that region and in that day, the occult culture made it easy for people to get demon possessed.  Also, the medical field and sanitation is not like it is today so people weren’t as healthy as they are today.  So they probably would be encountering a lot of sick people and a lot of demon possessed people. Now you can imagine, being their very first missions trip, how nervous the 12 apostles probably were.  I mean Jesus was powerful his message was piercing and now they are suppose to do exactly what he did.  You can imagine the weight the burden the fear the anxiety they were feeling.  And I’m sure they probably had doubts.  I’m sure Thomas did.  Because you know he’s doubting Thomas.  He’s probably thinking: oh man what if I enter a city and this big demon possessed guy starts running at me and I say in Jesus name come out of him and the demon doesn’t leave.  Or worse yet what if the demon leaps out of the man and comes upon me.  Oh man that would be horrible.  Imagine what Peter was thinking.  What if I see a lame man begging for money and I say silver and gold I do not have but what I have I give to you.  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.  And I pick him with both hands and…he falls right back down again breaking his arm.  Now he’s got crippled legs and a broken arm.  And then I’m going to say believe in Jesus who has the power to raise you up from the dead.  And they are going to go get real this Jesus can’t even heal a lame man, how am I suppose to believe he can raise me from the dead?

So Jesus probably knowing the anxiety and fear they would have says I’m giving you guys power and authority over all demons and diseases.  You’re going to go and when you see a demon, you’ll be able to cast them out.  When you encounter the lame or sick, you’re going to be able to heal their diseases.  So go preach the kingdom and heal the sick.  And don’t be ashamed of message because you’ll be able to prove that the message has power and is real.  They’ll see that these words are true.  You see the miracles Jesus did, the healings, the raising from the dead authenticated Jesus’ message.  They were evidence that Jesus wasn’t crazy.  That his words didn’t come from man but God.  So these miracles, these signs and wonders he gave to the disciples so it would bolster the message they gave. Christians will preach the gospel well when they have divine power and authority.

Now let me say this.  Do we need God’s power and authority today?  Yes.  But that power and authority might be expressed differently today in America than it did back then.  Because I think the common everyday needs of people today are different than they were back then.  People have different problems here and now.  As I said before.  Back then because of bad sanitation and primitive medicine, people’s health was not as good.  So people die younger and sicknesses/diseases were more prevalent.  Also, because people in that culture more openly dabbled in the occult, there was probably more demon possession cases.  So if Jesus would preach the gospel to a crowd, there is a good chance that more than half of those people were either sick or demon possessed.  But today if you go to Harvest Crusade, and you look at these American 16-17-18-20 something year olds in the stands, how many of have as their list of top problems diseases and demon possession?  Probably not many.  Now if you go to a senior citizen you might have people with major health issues. 

If you go to a 3^rd world country you might have more encounters with demon possessions.  But, here not as much. But we have our own problems.  21^st century Americans have their own issues to sort out.  I think one of the big problems we have in this individualistic culture with broken families on the rise is the issue of loneliness.  How many people feel isolated or alone?  How many people are there who rarely experienced true sacrificial love?

Huong told me a story of a client of ours.  I can tell you because you don’t know who she is.  She is a 40 something year old women with an 8 year old son.  Five years ago, she divorced her husband because he was cheating on her.  He went to Vietnam, met a girl had an affair.  Someone told her about she refused to believe it.  She thought they were so much in love and he wasn’t the type of person who would do that.  But he completely changed.  Every once in a while the phone would ring and he would run upstairs into his office to pick up the call.  Still in denial, one time she went up to the office with her 3 year old son to tell her husband dinner was ready.  As she opened the door he freaked out and kicked the door shut smashing her face as well as her sons.  When she had enough she divorced.  During the divorce proceedings, he told the judge he would have custody of their son visit their son 3 days a week and wouldn’t leave it all for his wife.  Because of that, the judge reduced the amount of child support he had to pay.  For the last five years, never once did he ever take their son home to his place.  Rarely even visits him while paying a reduced child support payment.  This woman needs to hear the gospel message.  But this woman also needs to see that the message is real.  She needs to see a husband love his wife and family with a Godly love.  She needs to know that God can help get her life back in order. 

You know another problem we have…stress.  Stress.  Worry.  Anxiety.  We live in a complicated world and the more complex life gets there is greater potential for worry and fear. So I go to my friend and talk to him about he kingdom of God and how Jesus is the mediator.  He’ll say what about my burdens?  What about my worries and fears?  And I can say let me tell you about the peace that surpasses all understanding.  Let me show you my worry free and fear free life because I am trusting God with everything.  This message I am sharing is real.  That is power and authority.

If I am walking right with God, that power and authority will be shown in my life.  The power to sustain a good healthy loving marriage will be there.  The power to heal me from emotional trauma is there.  The power to bring peace.  That is the sign and wonder to meet the needs of those around me. 

Now why do I need authority and power.  Shouldn’t the Word of God prove itself.  Can’t I just say Jesus is the way to heaven and leave at that?  If that was the case, why would Jesus spend a good part of 3 years healing, exorcising, and raising the dead?  If that’s all he needed to do, Jesus would just stand on top of the temple.  Yell out I am the way the trust and the life no one comes to the Father but by me and then die on a cross and leave.

Why did he spend a good chunk of his 3 year ministry serving people?

God has chosen to communicate the message of the gospel through human lives. That includes my words and my deeds.  For my words to be effective, they must be expressed in non-verbal aspects of my life.

II.  Christians preach the gospel well when they have the ability to maintain simple lifestyles.

Christians preach the gospel well when they have divine power and authority to authenticate that message.  Secondly, Christians preach the gospel well when they have the ability to maintain simple lifestyles.  To be effective, the Christian must be able to live plainly while fulfilling his mission.  For us to do our single job of sharing the gospel well, we must learn to be content in whatever financial/material situation God puts us in.

Along with the commission to preach, Jesus gives instructions to the 12 about what to pack and where to live.  Let me read to you verse 3-4:

And He said to them, "Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece. 
"Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart.

So Jesus says go spend a few weeks traveling to cities and towns in northern Galilee and preach the kingdom.  You have authority and power to cast out demons and to heal the sick.  By the way, don’t pack anything.  Just wear the shirt on your back and one staff for walking or protection.  That’s it.  Don’t take anything else.  Don’t bring a bag, don’t bring food, don’t bring money.  Instead just go and depend on the people you minister to to take you in and support you.

Let me tell you what this does not mean.  It does not mean that to live properly as Christians, we must sell everything we have and live off of those we share the gospel with.  It doesn’t mean that a pastor or evangelist is supposed to do that.  We know that because at times and we will see it in a second, Paul lived fairly comfortably.  This does not mean that this is a blanket command for all of us to follow strictly.   Remember that these are partly training missions for the disciples.  Jesus is not only sending them out to minister he’s also training them to do it well when it comes time for him to leave.  So what Jesus is saying is that for this particular missions trip take nothing.  Learn to depend on God.  Learn to trust in God to provide for you.  Also, learn to have flexible lifestyles.  Again the second point is that to preach the gospel well, Christians must have the ability to maintain simple lifestyles.  It doesn’t you always must be poor.  It means that do your one job well, you must be able to live on very little if you have to.

We talked about this with one of the guys’ small groups but you know if I had $10 million dollars, what would I do with it?  I would give a tenth to the Lord.  Go down to these new 3000 square feet million dollar homes near the beach they are selling in Laguna Hills and buy one.  Then take the remaining 8 million dollars put it in some money market account that pays 7-8 percent interest.  That’s about $500,000 a year.  Quit my job close my office and do ministry full time.  I would get a new S class Mercedes to drive to and from church.  That would be my dream scenario.  On the other hand, if I had to move into an 850 square foot 1 bedroom apartment and drive 1999 Toyota Corolla, assuming Huong would be cool about it…I think I would be perfectly content.  Because being able to have the flexibility to be in God’s perfect will is the place I could ever be.  Paul mastered this type of attitude in Philippians 4:11-13.  Let me read it to you:

…for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

So is it wrong to be rich?  No.  Abraham was a very wealthy man.  Job was wealthy.  Joseph of Arimathea was wealthy.  It’s okay for me to be rich, I just can’t love to be rich.  Money is not the root of all evil, the love of money is the root of all evil.

Why do I need to live simply?  You can be rich to do share the gospel effectively.  High maintenance people limit their options. I want to be able go wherever God wants me to go. 

Conclusion
Christians preach the gospel well when they have divine power and authority authenticating the message while having the ability to maintain simple lifestyles.  The only thing we can’t do in heaven is to tell the lost about Jesus.  That is the only reason why we are still hanging around here on earth.  That is the only reason why we have to learn to put up with each other.  The world needs to know that there is a way to heaven.  And if I want to do my job well I must show proof that this message is real and I must be flexible enough to wherever God leads. Me.

Our statement of faith

In the beginning...

In OUR beginning stages of ministry, there has been many things on our hearts that many of us in the group wanted to do. We definitely needed a name, and legitimate one. And finally we have one. To start off we'll begin this brand spankin' new blog with our statement of faith, and how to contact us. It'll take a while before things start looking "prettier", but we'll have to make do with the lack of 24 hours we're given, and the amount of strength we have to actually be doing any of this. So here goes!

We do not define ourselves by Selah, but Selah is a characteristic of how God has defined just one part of us. Selah as defined by the Holman Bible Dictionary  as a pause either for silence or a musical interlude. It can also be a signal for the congregation to sing, recite, or fall prostrate on the ground. At times it can be a cue for cymbals to crash, a word to be shouted by the congregation, or a sign to the choir to sing a higher pitch or louder.

For us, Selah is our pause in the week. It is our place to come, be refreshed, renewed, and revamped. Here we worship God in spirit and in truth, and we are edified by teachings from the Bible. Selah Fellowship, is really a gathering of believers, together striving for unity, love, and greater intimacy with God.

We believe that salvation lays solely on the decision made to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. His death on the cross marked the forgiveness of all our sins from today, tomorrow, into eternity.

We believe that Jesus Christ is the one and only true God, and his words which are written in the Bible have stood the tests of time.

We believe that the Holy Spirit can allow us to tangibly experience God, and to fulfill the role of a helper in our lives in replacement of Jesus’ return to heaven after his resurrection. He is the one who helps us to understand the Word, and intercedes on our behalf during times of difficulties and struggles.

We believe that everyone can be saved, and our doors are open for all those who would like to make the decision to know God, follow Jesus, and have eternal life. 

Come visit us at 13421 Edwards St,  Westminster, CA 92683.

Our service times are Saturday 7pm & Sunday 9am.

If you have any questions, or need any prayer, please feel free to contact us here:

selahfellowship@gmail.com