Baptized?

And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;

John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,

And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. 

                                                               (Luke 3:15-16, 21-22 KJV)

John the Baptist baptized all of the people for the repentance of sins and there were multitudes of them! He told them that one was coming who was greater than he was and that one would baptize them with the Holy Spirit and fire. That one has come. Have you been baptized? Have you shared the Good News and encouraged anyone to be baptized lately?  After all Jesus did command us to:    

"Go ye therefore, 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)

Over the years I have encountered so many people who were not baptized and that includes both children and adults. Some were eventually baptized. Many chose not to be. In Baptism your sins are forgiven. In Baptism you are anointed with the Holy Spirit. In Baptism you are a child of God.  What precious gifts from God these are! If you have not been baptized into the Body of Christ what are you waiting for? If your neighbor has not been why are you not teaching them and sharing the Good News of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord?

Receive the gift of life and live life redeemed by the Word who willingly shed his blood for you! 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

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.

Irritated By The Risen Christ?

"And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,

Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.

Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand." 

                                                                                 (Acts 4:1-4 KJV)

For sure! People were irritated then and they may be irritated now if and when you share with them the Good News that Jesus was resurrected from the dead. They may be irritated; but, many will also hear and believe unto their salvation. 

Jesus commanded us to go and tell people everywhere about him and what he has done for us.   

"Go ye therefore, 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 KJV)

So, do you? As a professed Christian do you share the Good News that Jesus lives and he lives for all people? No matter who you are or what you may have done, Jesus loves you enough to die for you and because he did all who believe will be saved and live in his gracious and loving presence forever.

If we love Jesus as he loves us; if we desire to love others as Jesus loves them, we will share the Good News of salvation through faith alone (not by our good works) in Christ alone. 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

The Great Commission

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, 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 28:18-20 KJV)

If you ask your children or grandchildren to help you with some household chore, you do not expect the reply to be "no." If your boss asks you to do something for him or her; that also would not typically require a yes or no response. They are simply being polite. Not all requests are meant to give you options. They are politely phrased commands. Now, of course, the child or the employee can say no if they choose. They can also suffer the consequences if they do. 

Likewise, we often tend to take Jesus' words "Go ye therefore..." as optional. For the Christian, they are not. They are a command. They are what is known as the "Great Commission." The words of your lips may very well lead them to baptism into the Body of Christ. 

Sharing the Good News; sharing what you know about Christ, is not optional for any Christian. It is a command from Jesus, himself. It is a command with a promise: "..and, lo, I am with you always."

God's Peace - Pr. J