Good morning all!
The
Lord has been leading us through these studies of the book of Acts. We
have going more slowly than usual because we are facing major questions
together, questions about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
As
we do this we will be blessed. We will be "poor in spirit," that is,
we will not be so sure of ourselves.* We will be willing to stop and
stand at the crossroads of decision that the Lord brings us to. We
will stop, look, ask and then walk. That process is one of repentance
and of faith. Fearless, knowing that God is leading us, we will allow
our Lord to refine us as silver and gold, fit vessels for His Kingdom.
*(Please
pray for me that I am willing to be corrected just as much as anyone
else! And then speak with me if the Lord leads you to do so!)
I
hope each of you will stop and "stand at the crossroads" when we come
to major questions, look into God's Word, spend time seeking the Lord in
prayer, and then go ahead and act on what it is that the Lord is saying
to you. The "looking," the "asking" and the "walking" is often
something that we need to ask others for help in.
Therefore,
I hope many will consider coming to prayer tonight at church, 6:30, so
together we can ask the Lord to do that refining and correcting work,
and that we will be completely submitted to His will. This is the way
that the Lord leads us to pleasant pastures, to peace, to joy, and to
the filling of His Holy Spirit into all of our lives.
As the scriptures say (this is part of Psalm 119):
7 The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
and all of them are righteous.
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
and all of them are righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.
11 By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.
11 By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Please consider coming to prayer tonight. In any case, please spend time in prayer about what we have studied so far in the book of Acts. We looked carefully this last Sunday at Acts 2:36-41.
If we proceed as we have been, on Jan. 20 we might review a bit of what we talked
about on Jan. 13, see if there are any questions we should talk about as
a group, and then proceed to the rest of chapter 2, where the Holy
Spirit knits his people together into a supernatural community of faith,
hope and love.
This is also the topic of the
Holy Spirit "Alpha" videos that have been being shown on Monday
evenings at the Begarowicz's home. God is moving THROUGH HIS WORD and
Holy Spirit and I am so thankful! (I missed last night's Holy Spirit
study because I needed to be at our church board of directors meeting...
I heard it was a wonderful evening!)
If
you have questions or concerns of any sort, about what we are doing in
our Sunday morning Bible study, or anything else, please read God's
Word, then ask Him to speak with you in prayer. Asking someone else who
is also studying God's Word to read and pray with you is important too,
since God does not leave us alone, but gives us one another as brothers
and sisters who can be used of God to correct and encourage. I am
available and love to talk with any of you too!
I
am learning, as I read God's Word with you. I am praying that I will
not be the "answer man" who knows it all! I am learning to come to
crossroads too, and to allow God to examine me. Pray that I will be
brave in standing on God's Word, and brave in casting aside anything
that is not of God.
Religious traditions and
religious teachings that you and I have learned in the past must be
examined in the light of God's Word, to see if they are indeed God's
will. Even questions as basic as baptism need to be held up to this
light, to be examined, and to be prayed over. This may cause
discomfort, but sometimes discomfort is a part of the process of coming
to "crossroads," where we look, ask, and then walk more and more in
agreement with the Lord. God will bless us as we do.
I ask your prayers and your patience with me and with one another through this process.
Peace be with you my dear brothers and sisters. Feel free to pass this email on to others who might be interested.
Steve Thorson
763-291-3499
Crossroads Community Church, Cokato
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