Empowered By The Spirit

Zeba, MI; United Methodist Camp Meeting

 

And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. 

                                                                                      (Act 1:4-11 KJV)

Just before he ascended into heaven Jesus informed the disciples that they would be baptized and empowered by the Holy Spirit to go out into the whole world to be witnesses of Jesus. And, so they were. And, so they did.

What do you believe you were baptized for? Baptism is a gift from God. It endows us with many gifts. In baptism we are forgiven our sins. We are born again as children of God most high. We, as the first disciples were, are anointed by the Holy Spirit and empowered to go out into the world to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. Do we use that gift? Do we go out? Do we share the marvelous things that God has done and continues to do through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit?

"May God fill us with the desire to go forth '...and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.'" 

                                                                                        (Matt 28:19-20)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Revival

Photo taken a few years ago in the sanctuary

at the Zeba Indian United Methodist Campground

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. (Isa 57:15 KJV)

Last night was the final worship service of the Methodist Camp Revival in Zeba for this year. I have attended the annual camp meeting often over the years and have had the privilege of preaching there for many years including this year. Last night, the guest preacher Rev. Jerry Bishop, pastor at the Baptist Church in L'Anse wanted to know what we were really thankful for. At that moment, among other things, I was thankful that I was there to hear the Good News of what God in Christ Jesus has done for us. Rev. Jerry was speaking in regards to the story of the ten lepers who were healed; but, only the one who was thankful was made whole. An outstanding message; a message to inspire us to look within ourselves, humble ourselves so that our spirits were revived. 

Methodists also apparently like to sing and sing a lot! Many, many, hymns were sung each night as well as special music. Last night Courtney (Clishe) Jones made me cry TWICE! with her sweet voice as she sang "In The Sweet Bye and Bye" and later "Amazing Grace" in English and Ojibwa (or Anishinabe). 

The camp meetings, held annually, began in 1880! Imagine, 139 years ago! They are held at the Zeba Indian United Methodist Campground. The sanctuary is log with open walls and dirt floor strewn with cedar boughs. They have most recently been held during the first week of August at 7 p.m.. Consider joining us next year! 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

There Is Power In The Blood!

My dear friend and brother in Christ,  Pr. John Henry (now retired), 

preaching at the Zeba UMC Campground Meeting in the woods.

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.  (Eph 1:15-23 NIV)

Every August for years, I was privileged to preach at the Zeba Indian United Methodist Camp Meeting. The camp meeting is held by an Ojibwa congregation that meets out in the woods at a chapel without walls during the summer months. Inevitably, every year, sometime during the week long camp meeting, someone asks to sing one of my favorite hymns, "There Is Power In The Blood." There is power in the blood of Jesus!

I often wonder if everyone really understands that power. Do we really get it? The one who was raised from the dead lives! He is our head. He is the head over everything for the church, which is his body. The one who descended to hell, rose from the dead, and ascended to the heavenly realms lives. The grave could not hold him. Hell has no power over him. How much more powerful can one be than that? Trust in his power. Trust in the power of the blood of Jesus.

Lord, God, grant all whom we know and love the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that they come to know and love you; that they might understand the awesome power of the one who shed his blood that all who believe in him might be reconciled to you, dear Lord, and to all of your children, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J