You may remember the story of the Old Testament where the Israelites sent spies into the Promised Country. They came back saying: "Yes, this is a land flowing with milk and honey, but it is also full of giants and cities with high walls. We are not able to confront these people. Compared to them, we're only grasshoppers "(see Numbers 13).
Most sermons on Pentecost focus on the signs and wonders which were done by the apostles. Or they emphasize the three thousand people saved in one day, or the tongues of fire that appeared. But we do not often hear of an event that has become the largest source of wonder - and returned a large crowd in their countries, with a perennial and unmistakable knowledge of who Jesus is.
It was the last night of Jesus with His disciples and He knew that his time was short. They had just finished their dinner and Christ wanted to convey to his friends one last teaching while He was on Earth. He called them: "Arise, let us go hence" (John 14:31) and he took the walk. As they walked He gave them this analogy:
I remember that when I left my job to become a full-time pastor, I put some money in the bank, from my pension capital. I figured that if my story Ministry did not work, at least I'd have a nest egg which fall back. One day, a friend who was also in the Ministry entered my office and said, "Pastor, I do not know what I'll do. The engine of my car just exploded and I have no money. I do not even know how I'll go to church.
We believe that when we fail to trust God in our everyday situations, we do harm to ourselves. We think we're missing just blessings. But that's not all. First, we hurt and get angry our Lord. He warns: "If you do not trust me, you will develop a hardened heart."
I recently met a pastor I have known for several years. Every time I had met him before, I had told my wife afterwards: "This man is so superficial. Such hast thou seen. I do not know how God could bless him. "And then I met this same man after the Holy Spirit has finished adjusting my judgment of other problems. This time, the Spirit told me, "Love him. Shut up and listen to him. Then pray with him. "
Comment penses-tu que Jésus commencerait une église dans ta ville ?
La première chose que Christ ferait, serait de se promener dans le quartier en pleurant. L’Écriture nous dit : “ Comme il approchait de la ville, Jésus, en la voyant, pleura sur elle, et dit : Si toi aussi, au moins en ce jour qui t’est donné, tu connaissais les choses qui appartiennent à ta paix ! Mais maintenant elles sont cachées à tes yeux” ( Luc 19:41-42).
Si tu fais partie de l’Église de Jésus, alors des mots forts vont t'être adressés de la part du Saint-Esprit. Pourquoi ? Parce que l'Esprit crie en nous contre tout ce que nous pensons, disons ou faisons qui vient de la chair. Jésus dit : “Car c’est du cœur que viennent les mauvaises pensées, les meurtres, les adultères, les impudicités, les vols, les faux témoignages, les calomnies” (Matthieu 15:19).
Chaque génération de chrétiens doit s'examiner elle-même pour discerner si sa mission et ses actions honorent Dieu. Nous devons continuellement nous demander : “Est-ce que nous servons encore le Seigneur et notre prochain fidèlement et dans un esprit de sacrifice ? Ou bien avons-nous glissé vers une mentalité de “bénis-moi”?
L'Amérique est victime d'un “christianisme capitaliste.” Le but n'est plus une croissance spirituelle, mais une augmentation du nombre de personnes, des propriétés et des finances. Le jugement de Jésus envers l'église de Laodicée s'applique à de nombreuses églises d'aujourd'hui : “Tu ne réalises pas ce qui est en train de t'arriver. Ton aveuglement t'a rendu tiède et tu ne le vois même pas. Tu penses être encore bouillant pour Moi” (voir Apocalypse 3:15-17).