Small Town Life In Big L.A.

Let the Lord Lead

Bible Study Acts 16

Paul meets Timothy who's mother is a Jewish believer as was his grandmother. He had a good reputation among the believers there. 

God led them to go to Macedonia by giving them a vision. It is interesting that the Holy Spirit prevented them from going to Asia and preaching there. Unless the Lord prepares people it is a waste of time. The Holy Spirit was also referred to as the Spirit of Jesus. We would do well today to let the Holy Spirit lead and not what looks good to us. 

There they met a woman named Lydia who worshipped God. The Lord opened her heart to receive Paul's message of salvation. None of us figure this out on our own we are chosen. 

 

Behold Israel In L.A.!

The excitement can be felt throughout the van! We have arrived! Something I have been looking forward to for weeks!

Here's the story...Back at Chatsworth Lake Church, Dale has been preaching through the Revelation, chapter and verse, for over a year! We just finished a week ago. Around 3/4 of the way in I was introduced to a ministry called Behold Israel. I KNOW it was the Lord's timing. Here was a man, Amir Tsarfati, Jewish, who came to know Jesus, who lives in Israel, echoing what we have been studying! The message? The time is NEAR! At the door! Bride of Christ GET READY!

I began following his teaching, which is so similar to my husbands (because they stick to the Book), on YouTube. What a blessing to have a believer who lives right there reporting what is really going on in light of what the Bible says! Well you can imagine my excitement when an Instagram post popped up saying he would be in Southern California during Passover week! Better yet, he would be speaking in GLENDALE, where our stores are, AND on our day off!!! Woohoo!

Look at how beautiful Glendale is! Mountains! Palm Trees! This is the street that led to the church.

And here we are at FIRST INTERNATIONAL CHURCH OF THE LIVING WATERS. It's right in the midst of a quaint neighborhood street with the most interesting houses.

The worship was beautiful and sung in Armenian and English.

The message was impactful too. Here is Amir Tsarfati, (left) speaking in English and his translator.

The Bible talks about the sign of the Fig Tree. In Matthew 24 Jesus disciples wanted to know what events would signal His coming and the end of the age. Jesus went on to tell them what was going to happen. Then in Matthew 24:32. Jesus said "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree. As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door."

WHAT THINGS you may ask? Well it's Easter week. What a good time to crack open that book and read it for yourself. Speaking of books, is your name written in the Lamb's book of life? That's the KEY question. I spent a good chunk of my life not even knowing about this book! According to the Bible in order to spend eternity in heaven with the Lord your name must be in His book. There's only one way to get it there. Through Jesus.

May you seek Him NOW while He can be found. A blessed Resurrection week!

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How To Handle Disputes In The Church

Bible Study Acts 15 

Certain people (without authorization and causing a disturbance) came to Antioch and started teaching the new Gentile believers they must be circumcised to be saved. Right or wrong? A sharp debate ensued. The solution? Paul & Barnabus met with the apostles and elders. Much discussion took place. There is victory in Godly counsel. 

The solution: we are saved by GRACE through faith. There is no need to put a yoke on people. A letter to be accompanied by leaders was sent to the Gentile believers. They were asked to abstain from certain practices that are very offensive to Jewish believers. The letter was very encouraging and strengthened the believers.

 

 

 

Faith To Be Healed

Bible Study Acts 14

Paul & Barnabus preaching was confirmed with signs & wonders. 

They came upon a lame man. Paul looked directly at him and saw that he had faith to be healed. (I wonder what he saw? Surely the Holy Spirit was leading and gave him that faith). The man was healed and the people thought P&B were gods, Zeus & Hermes to be exact. This was distressing to P &B. 

Jews came and convinced the crowd to stone Paul. They left him for dead. The disciples gathered around him and he got up and went back to the city. 

Through many hardships one enters the kingdom (not a popular message today. Seems many want their cushioned seats with cup holders, gourmet coffee, and light show) 

 

Who Are You Listening To?

Bible study Acts 13

And the Holy Spirit SAID...yes! the Holy Spirit talks to us, not audably but to our mind. The enemy talks to us also so it is important to measure our thoughts according to the Word.

Elymas was a false prophet who opposed the apostles. Paul, full of the Holy Spirit, looked him right in the eye and told him what he was. God then immediately blinded him.  As a result the one Elymas tried to keep from hearing the word, after seeing this miracle believed.  So often what the enemy means for harm the Lord turns to good. 

The Jewish leaders reject the gospel and it goes to the Gentiles. All who were appointed for eternal life believed. Only God can open your eyes. Through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through Him everyone who believes is set free from every sin. 

 

Prayer Works!

Bible Study Acts 11:19-

The Lord's hand was with them and many came to the Lord. Barnabas, which means encourager, went to Antioch.  He was a good man full of the Holy Spirit and faith. He got Saul to join him. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. 

Agabus through the Spirit predicted a severe earthquake was coming to Rome. The believers sent help in preparation. The earthquake did indeed occur. 

Herod arrested Peter after he had put James to death. He was guarded by 4 teams of soldiers. The church began to earnestly pray for Peter. It is AMAZING what happened in answer to their prayer. An angel appeared to Peter, his chains fell off and he was led out of the prison!!! He appeared at the praying believers house and they couldn't believe it! 

This brings to mind one of my favorite verses 1 John 5:14 "And this is the confidence we have before God, that if we ask anything according to His will HE HEARS US .... and we have what we have asked of Him"  Prayer WORKS!

 

Christian Jews Sharing Jesus With the Gentiles

Bible Study Acts 10

Cornelius was a Roman Centurian who was devout, feared God, generous, and prayed regularly. He didn't know Jesus yet. An angel appeared to him and told him who Peter was (a Jew) and where to find him. 

Jews thought Gentiles were unclean and didn't have anything to do with them. God put Peter in a trance. He sees heaven opened and has a vision of unclean food. God told him do not call anything impure that God has made clean. This happened 3 times! Perhsps because Peter was known to be stubborn and impulsive. 

The Spirit spoke to Peter and told him to go with Cornelius's men who were waiting downstairs. When he got to Cornelius house he understood the meaning of the vision. The Gentiles God sent him to were not considered by God as unclean. Peter then shared Jesus with Cornelius and his household and they believed and were saved. Up until this point only Jews were Christians now the door was opened to the Gentiles. 

Yes Jesus Speaks Directly To People!

Bible Study Acts 9

Saul was breathing out MURDEROUS THREATS against the disciples and seeking to imprison those of THE WAY. It was so simple, no denominations, just followers of Jesus, THE WAY, the truth, and the life. 

Saul was after the believers when SUDDENLY a LIGHT shown around him and he fell to the ground. JESUS SPOKE DIRECTLY to Saul saying "Saul, Saul why do you persecute me?" When Saul asked who was talking the answer was "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting"  Notice when you persecute the Lord's people you are really persecuting Him. 

Jesus then gave Saul instructions. Saul was blind for 3 days from the bright light and had to be led to his destination. 

 

 

Persecution, Sorcery, and Ethiopia ...Take Note!

Bible Study Acts 8  We covered a lot tonight! 

A great persecution broke out against the church. The Lord allowed this to happen. The believers were scattered and preached the word wherever they went. The Lord uses evil for His purposes and works all things together for good.

SAUL...began to DESTROY the church going from HOUSE TO HOUSE and putting people in prison. hmmmm wonder what the Lord is going to do to this guy? Death? Hell? Stay tuned...

THE POWERFUL MINISTRY OF PHILIP...he preached the gospel with signs accompanying. CROWDS HEARD him. SAW the signs, and PAID CLOSE ATTENTION to what he said.  Demons shrieked as they came out of MANY. It's interesting that they weren't just in a few "weirdos" but in MANY. Demons dwell in people and look how they react when confronted with the power of God working through someone filled with the Holy Spirit. People were also HEALED and there was great JOY in that city. Just think none of this would have happened if it weren't for the persecution and Philip being scattered!

Simon the  Sorcerer ... practiced SORCERY for some time and like Philip had people amazed because of his signs.  Did you know the dark side can do signs and wonders too, imitating God, yet the source of their power comes from Satan. Magic, horoscopes, fortune telling, etc  Along comes Phillip preaching the good news of the KINGDOM OF GOD and the NAME OF JESUS CHRIST and many, even Simon heard the gospel and believed and got baptized! Simon then followed Philip everywhere. When he saw the Holy Spirit given to new believers through the laying on of the apostles hands he wanted to BUY the ability to do that himself.  He was rebuked and told his heart was not right and told to repent. Turns out he was full of wickedness, bitterness, and captive to sin. Can a believer have wrong motives and be immature? The answer is YES! Yet God exposed this and used Phillip to get to the heart of the matter urging Simon to ask the Lords forgiveness and REPENT. 

Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunich ... the HOLY SPIRIT told Phillip to approach his carriage. He was reading the Old Testament.  He was reading about Jesus but didn't know it. The Lord used Phillip to explain it to him.  He believed and asked to be baptized.  

So many examples in just this one chapter of how the Holy Spirit works. Bible Study is so wonderful. Are you making time for it in your life?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flourishing In The New Year

Several weeks ago Dale referred to something in Hosea that caught my attention. I've been dwelling in the book ever since. It's most intriguing as it's one of the books where God does a lot of direct, first person talking. It's heart wrenching as the main theme is His love and dealings with His unfaithful people. I finally made it to Chapter 14, the end, and discovered true GEMS.

I like taking a lot of information and boiling it down to something simple that I can understand and remember. This verse says it all to me. It is God talking about Himself in Hosea 14:8

"I am like a FLOURISHING juniper, your FRUITFULNESS comes from ME."

To flourish is to be in a vigorous state, to thrive. Fruitful is producing good results, abundant growth, being beneficial. If our fruitfulness comes ONLY from God how can we be fruitful if we are too busy to spend time with Him? If we don't spend time with Him how can we hope to know His ways?

Chapter 14 starts off with these words.

"RETURN, Israel to the Lord your God."

If you have drifted and allowed other things (work, travel, school, the internet) to take priority in your life, now is the time to return to the Lord. He says "Your sins have been your downfall". Verse 2 says we are to go to HIM with WORDS saying "FORGIVE our sins and receive us graciously." I am so thankful that God is a gracious (courteous, kind, pleasant) God. We are not to look to the world, things, idols, to provide for us (vs 3). God Himself is our provider.

God says "Who is wise? Let them realize these things...the WAYS of the Lord are RIGHT" vs 9

What are the WAYS of the Lord? His ways are simple not burdensome. They work.

1. SPEND TIME WITH THE LORD Just you, Him, and your Bible in a quiet place. I am enjoying doing this first thing in the morning. I get up, grab my phone (my bible is on there)go right back to bed and start reading. The Bible is the living word of God, not like an ordinary book, and He speaks to you. Each morning is different and may include one or a combo of talking, listening, taking notes, looking things up. It is never boring. Some mornings I only have a short time others I can linger. But oh the things He shows me!
2. GO TO CHURCH...EVERY SUNDAY It's so simple but something I see people neglect because they don't understand that investing yourself (not just "attending") in God's people, His body, is what makes them strong, encouraged, healthy, fruitful, flourishing. It is God's way. It's how He set it up. When you regularly put other things ahead of going to church and using the gifts God has given you to serve, you will not reap the benefits God has for you. You may try and justify your frequent absences and convince yourself you have good reasons to not go, or only "show up" once or twice a month, but sadly you are only kidding yourself. I have had the privilege of seeing faithful ones attending church and Bible studies over the course of decades and their rewards and example are so rich! They are blessed and a blessing.
   
3. TITHE...we are to give 1/10 of our income to the church. This is minimal. If you make $50,000 $5000 of it goes to your church, set aside, to be placed in the offering each week. That's $96.15 a week. There are so many scriptures that are very specific about this. We are encouraged to go above and beyond the tithe because the more you give, time, talent, and money, the more you get blessed. When you honor God in this He honors you. When you don't, what you do have will be like a purse with holes in it. What you do have God will "blow away". Yep, it's in there! 

So the choice is ours. Do we want to flourish and be fruitful in 2017? Do we want to do things God's way?

"Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them."

May we choose God's way. May we choose a flourishing life! Happy New Year!

P.S. This photo was taken on the way home from church Sunday. This is the view as we crest the hill of the back road. Just gorgeous!

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