Like a Mighty Rushing Wind (Volume 20) June 24, 2018
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"A flock of geese once lived together in a barnyard. Once a week they gathered in a corner of their yard and listened to the great one who mounted the fence to speak of the "wonders of geese." He spoke about the exploits of their forefathers, the ones who mounted on their wings and flew the trackless wastes of the sky. He spoke of the goodness of the Creator who had given geese the urge to migrate and wings to fly. And as he spoke, the geese would nod their heads in agreement and marvel at these things, commenting on the eloquence of the preaching goose. All this they did. But one thing they never did - they didn't fly! They just went back to their dinner waiting for them, for the corn was good and the barnyard was secure.” (The Parable of the "The Geese That Never Flew”)
The geese in this parable are like many Christians today who gather together each Sunday in their own barnyards (churches) to hear their preaching goose (Pastor) speak of the goodness of our Creator (God) and about all the wonderful "signs, wonders and miracles” (Heb. 2:4) that are mentioned in the New Testament.
Afterwards, like the geese, they return home without even trying to fly (or to witness to others about what Jesus has done for them).
Jesus told his first disciples, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; for you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
The Holy Spirit comes to fill us (Acts 2:4, Eph. 5:18) with "rivers of living water." The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the "Baptism of Jesus" as John the Baptist explained (Matt. 3:11; Lk. 3:16). Until we receive the authentic "Baptism of the Holy Spirit” as it happened on the first Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4), we cannot be effective witnesses. We need the proof of the "signs” (Mk. 16:17–18). "Unless you people see signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe." (Jn. 4:48)
Not everyone receives the Holy Spirit at the same time they receive Salvation (Acts 2:4, 8:14–17; 9:17; 19:1–7). Only in Acts chapter 10, verses 44 to 48, did the bible reveal about people receiving salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit at the same time.
Without the authentic or real Baptism of the Holy Spirit (similar to the parable of the geese that never flew) we cannot fly and be effective witnesses for Jesus.
"These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit:
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments..." (1 Cor. 2:10-16)
Volunteer to be Perfect like your Heavenly Father.
"Therefore be imitators of God as dear children" (Eph. 5:1).
Father's Day is a great opportunity to honour our fathers. It is also a time to pay great honour and respect to our Heavenly Father. He's our "model" Father, and the perfect example of how human fathers should behave (Gen. 1:27).
God gave us two perfect mentors (or counselors ) - the first being Jesus (1 Jn. 2:1), and the second being the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:15–6; 16:7-15). Both Jesus and the Holy Spirit have been appointed to transform each believer into the likeness of our Heavenly Father.
When we receive Jesus as Lord and Saviour, and are baptized in the Holy Spirit, only then are we fully equipped to be the good parents God wants us to be (Rom. 12:1–8; 1 Cor. 12:8–10; Gal. 5:22–23).
Every family in this world is "dysfunctional." The bible tells us that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). After we experience the forgiveness of sin and receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit (with the evidence of speaking in tongues), we become "functional" families (Mk. 16:17–20; Acts 2:4).
"Our ways become His ways" (Rom. 12:2) and our families continually transform into God’s likeness “from glory to glory” (2 Cor. 3:17–18).
Read Gordon's Ministry Message Here >>
At a meeting in Owen Sound, Ontario, I met with a 70 year old woman who said, “I bring fifteen or more children to church every Sunday and they all call me ‘Grandma.’" I remembered "Grandma," and her humble beginnings - when I first met her at a Women's Aglow meeting where I preached and did ministry. Grandma recollected how terrified she was back then when she saw others who received ministry. People fell back unto the floor, and spoke in utterances and strange tongues. She reminisced saying:
"I really just wanted to leave the meeting but I couldn’t. It was if I was glued to the chair! I even tried to tip the chair over so I could get out! Finally I got the courage to stand up, and go to the front for prayer. I walked to the altar and you prayed with me to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. As I fell to the floor, I slowly began speaking in tongues. When I tried to stand up, I couldn’t! So I stayed on the floor and started to crawl out past you. I was hoping that you wouldn’t see me, but you spotted me right away! You just laughed heartily and praised Jesus! Now, looking back at it all, I can laugh and praise the Lord too! The joy of the Lord is my strength! Amen!" (Neh. 8:10)
Read Gordon's Full Ministry Report Here >>
When Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well, His disciples questioned his actions since the Jews and Samaritans were enemies with one another at that time. When Jesus traveled into the Samaritan village and spoke to the people about the Kingdom of God and Salvation, many became believers because of what the woman told them.
"Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, 'He told me everything I ever did.' So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers. 'This is indeed is the Saviour of the world!'" (Jn. 4:7–42)
Despite of what Jesus had done on the cross, religious hatred is still a huge problem among countries today. Jesus died on the cross to save all sinners (Rom. 5:8). He was the Lamb of God slain for all the sin of the world (Jn. 1:29).
Gordon's Holy Spirit ministry does not charge fees to churches or ministries that invite him, regardless of their size or location. Like the Apostle Paul, he is led by the Holy Spirit, and asks for love offerings/gifts to allow him to continue to accept invitations anywhere in the world.
Please pray and continue to be a “cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7) asking Jesus how you can contribute. Throughout 2018, help us to increase the harvest of people of all ages into the Kingdom of God!
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