I AM NOT THE HOLY SPIRIT

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

I AM NOT THE HOLY SPIRIT

Zechariah 4:6 So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.

We as believers usually desire to do so much good that sometimes we revert to our own energy in doing it. Then we get angry and wonder why things didn't turn out so good! Instead of getting into the flow of the Holy Spirit we get into the go of our own human spirit. We get frustrated and burnt out because it is not by might or by power but by the Holy Spirit.

The returned exiles had a lot of work to do. After spending seventy years in Babylon they were released to return to Jerusalem to rebuild their city and Temple. Can you imagine the discouragement they faced when they arrived and saw all that rubble? The Lord knew they would need a good word to encourage them. The prophet spoke and said it would be by His power and not theirs that the Temple would be built from foundation to capstone. The Lord would complete this project and the leadership would have the Holy Spirit's power to lead the operations.

How important it is to do God's work, God's way! Have you ever used a tool in a way it was not intended? You didn’t want to make one more trip back to the toolbox so you used what you had and it broke! In the same way God has a work for us to do and He wants us to do it His way. Doing God’s work our way will bring failure in the task.

This idea of letting the Holy Spirit lead us also works with not only projects but people. Only the Spirit can change a person's heart. I have to keep this in mind as I work with people but they seem to be working me! Listen to what Jesus said about the Holy Spirit: John 16:8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin... My job is not to play the Holy Spirit in someone's life.

Only the Lord can bring someone to salvation. John 3:8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” And only the Lord can change someone: 2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. Better to go with the Spirit's inspiration than our own clever manipulation.

Are you tired of striving and conniving? Then step down from your role as Jr. Holy Spirit! The Lord doesn't need any of our help. We only retard His progress in the projects and people we are involved in. You can trust the Lord to work His way and in His timing. The Holy Spirit came upon Jesus in the form of a dove. Receive the gentle power you need today to serve with joy!

Louie

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER - Norco City Hall

Obama says NO To A WhiteHouse Event For NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER!!

If President Obama is not supporting the National Day of Prayer then it's up to us! Let's pray today wherever we are for our nation. If you're in Norco please join us at 12noon at the Norco City Hall flagpole for a half hour on your lunch break. Tonight at midweek study at 7pm we will also have a special time of prayer for our country.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

LOSS OF A LOVED ONE

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

LOSS OF A LOVED ONE

(Isa 6:1) In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord...

This Mother's Day is going to be tough. Only six weeks ago Cheryl's mom passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer. We are so glad she knew the Lord and is now in heaven. But we miss her terribly. The permanence of separation is dawning upon us day by day. And with Mother's Day this week there are thoughts and feelings we've never had to face before. Mom's not here. No card to buy. No gift to purchase. A Mother's Day without a mother. Just loving memories behind and a looking forward to a grand reunion ahead. But in-between a gap that right now feels like a hole.

King Uzziah was a good king that brought Judah renewed prosperity and spiritual vitality. His long reign of fifty-two years was one of the greatest since the time of Solomon. He was a strong and able ruler whose fame spread far and wide. Here's a scripture that summarizes the basis for his success: (2 Chr 26:4-5) And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord...He sought God in the days of Zechariah...and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper.

But then Uzziah died. Who would lead the nation now? Who could compare with this great king? How could the nation survive without his leadership? It wouldn't be the same. It looks like even Isaiah got caught up in all these questions and perplexities. After all, it's easier to be a prophet under a godly monarch than an apostate one.

But in the year that king Uzziah died Isaiah had a vision of the Lord. He was high and lifted up and the angels were crying "holy, holy, holy." There was a shaking in the room and the house was filled with smoke. Isaiah saw himself as a sinful man who needed cleansing. God purged his sinful lips so he could speak God's words to the people. He was now ready to be sent by the Lord (Isa 6:1-8).

Isaiah found out something we all have to find out after the loss of a loved one. When that loved one steps out...the Lord steps in! Jesus fills that gap left by the one you are missing. When Uzziah died that's when Isaiah saw the Lord. And when that loved one passes our eyes now land on that One who not only sits on the throne of heaven but also on the throne of one's heart. His presence fills that gaping hole. (Eph 1:23) which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (Psa 73:25) Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. What a friend we have in Jesus!

Every year there are people in our church who have lost a loved one. And how often I have heard about how tough it is when these holidays pass by. But in that valley of the shadow of death the Lord is with us...His rod and His staff comfort us! Thanks for your prayers!!

Louie

JONAH AND SUICIDE

At our Thursday night midweek study our topic was "suicide." Here's my notes and maybe God will use you to bring hope to a desperate heart soon!

Jonah 1:12 And he said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me.”

Actual Suicides in the U.S. (2005)
· 1.3% of all deaths are from suicide.
· On average, one suicide occurs every 16 minutes.
· Suicide is the eleventh leading cause of death for all Americans.
· Suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people aged 15-24 year olds.(1st = accidents, 2nd = homicide)
· Suicide is the second leading waus of death for 25-34 year olds.
· Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students.
· More males die from suicide than females.(4 male deaths by suicide for each female death by suicide.)
· More people die from suicide than from homicide.(Suicide ranks as the 11th leading cause of death; Homicide ranks 13th.)
· There were over 800,000 suicide attempts in 2005

REASONS FOR SUICIDE: Why do people take their lives? They lose all hope. Stuff happens and then it keeps happening and they get depressed and see no way out. They experience torture in their soul beyond consolation and they want freedom from their inner chamber of horrors. They think no one cares so they figure why not? But is there a better way? The Bible says yes! As long as there is a God there is always hope!!

SUICIDE IN THREE CATEGORIES:

1) "SUCCESSFUL" SUICIDE: Suicide is not a new idea. The Bible records seven suicides:

· Abimelech (Judges 9:54) - Dying of a skull fracture during a siege ordered his armour-bearer to slay him.

· Samson (Judges 16:26-31) - Killed himself to avoid being 'made sport of' by the Philistines.

· Saul (1Samuel 31:3-6) - Wounded and defeated in the battle with the Philistines, asked his armour-bear to kill him. When he refused, Saul fell on his own sword. The armour-bearer did likewise.

· Ahithophel (2Samuel 17:1,23) - Plotted to overthrow David. When his plan failed, he hanged himself.

· Zimri (1 Kings 16:18) - Usurped the throne of {Israel;} when he failed, he burned down the palace around himself.

· Judas Iscariot (Matthew 27:4-5) - Hung himself after betraying Jesus.

2) THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE:

Jonah. Elijah also wanted to die: (1 Kings 19:1 - 4) And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. 2Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” 3And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 4But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”

3) ATTEMPTED SUICIDE: Here’s a story of hope from Acts 16. There was a man in this story that almost took his life. He was the Philippian jailer and he had lost all hope. You see, Paul and Silas were thrown into jail for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. At midnight they were singing songs of praise to the Lord. All the prisoners were hearing them and we assume they couldn’t believe the hope these two had in the Lord in the darkest hour of their life. Suddenly a huge earthquake rattled the prison foundations and all the chains broke off the prisoners. The jailer knew this was the worst thing that could happen in his life so he drew his sword and was about to kill himself when he heard Paul cry out, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” The story continues:

“Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.’ Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.” (Acts 16:29‑34)

That desperate man didn’t throw his life away, he gave his life away . . . to the God of hope. Look at the joy that filled his heart when Jesus came into his life.

CONCLUSION: Are you depressed? Have you thought of taking your life? Jesus is the One who died so why do you have to? Give your life to the Lord today and let Him carry the weight and restore hope and peace back to your heart. Jesus loves you and can help you . . . and He’s just a prayer away!

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

P.S. This last pic is to make you laugh after such a depressing (but necessary) topic!

SEE YOU IN HEAVEN DAWN!

Yesterday was a bittersweet day for us at Calvary Chapel Norco. We had a memorial service for Dawn and our tears were mixed with joy. We will miss our sister Dawn but will see her again in glory!

John 17:24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

GO! MUSIC OUTREACH - COFFEE DEPOT

Wednesday night the GO! Music Outreach had the privilege of playing at Coffee Depot in Riverside. There was a good showing of friends from Calvary Chapel Norco and many others flowed in and out to hear the music with a message who came in for coffee or to study. The name of Jesus was lifted up and glorified! We are now looking for more open doors to take the good news of Jesus outside the church walls to the world!

Mark 16:15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

Review the pics below and remember to keep this outreach team in your prayers. If you know of an open door where they can play and share the Lord then please call the church at (951) 272-WORD. Thanks and God bless!