“But to keep this thing from spreading, we will warn them never again to speak to anyone about the name of Jesus.”  So they called the two apostles back in and told them that they must never, for any reason, teach anything about the name of Jesus.  Peter and John answered, “Do you think God wants us to obey you or to obey him?  We cannot keep quiet about what we have seen and heard.”  Acts 4: 17-20 CEV

Do you know someone with an infectious smile or a contagious laugh?

The very first date I ever had with my husband, George, was to see the movie, “It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.”  My date laughed and laughed so loud and so hard at every scene in the entire movie that pretty soon I was just laughing because he was laughing.  Laughing with him.  It was contagious!!

One of my friends from NJ has a contagious laugh, (well, more like a cackle!) which you can hear all the way down the hallway! You start laughing even before you see her because that laugh is just downright contagious!

But then there are those things that infect or contaminate you and stay with you long after you can tolerate them.  Like one of my school principal’s cologne.  I could smell his nauseating (sorry!) aroma as soon as he stepped out of his office and came toward my classroom.  It was an early warning sign for, “You-better-look-busy-when-I-come-around-the-corner!!”

Or, how about the Jerry Seinfeld episode where the “stink” gets in his car and gets on everything and on everybody.  No one can get rid of it…it literally attaches itself to everything!!

If you’ve ever actually had an infection or a contagious disease, you know how people just stay clear of you!  Especially in hospitals! Wow, are they paranoid about germs or what?  When I was a child, maybe 10 or so, I had ingrown toenails that got infected and had to be removed.  Ouch!  Well, my little roommate and I decided to play cards together on my bed and we were happily playing, when the head nurse walked in to check on us.  She completely flipped out.  My infected toe was draining and oozing (sorry, again!) and would contaminate the other little girl, who was there to get her tonsils out.  She quickly separated us, changed the sheets, and made us vow to remain completely apart for the duration of our stay.  What a bummer!!  I guess she felt I was seriously contagious.

What is the definition of contagious?  “Caught or communicated by contact, infectious, easily diffused from person to person, capable of infecting.  To pour out and spread, to circulate, to proclaim.  To widely spread.”  The easiest way to catch most infectious diseases is by coming in contact with someone who has one, such as, person-to-person, or mother to unborn child.

But, Church, when we talk about the Gospel, we’re not spreading a disease…we’re spreading a cure!  Spreading positive instead of negative, spreading encouragement instead of discouragement, spreading joy instead of sadness, spreading hope instead of hopelessness.  The easiest way to spread the Gospel is to communicate it.  Catch it yourself and spread it around.  Circulate it.  Pour it out.  Proclaim it!

Listen to the words of a song by the Newsboys.  “I’m Not Ashamed” from the album “GOING PUBLIC,” copyright 1992.  “I’m not ashamed to let you know, I want the light in me to show.  I’m not ashamed to speak the name of Jesus Christ.  What are we sneaking around for?  Who are we trying to please?  Shrugging off sin, apologizing like we’re spreading some kind of disease.  I’m saying, “No way!  No way!”  This one says it’s a lost cause, save your testimonies for church time. The other one states you better wait until you do a little market research.  I’m saying, “No way!  No way!”  I’m not ashamed to let you know, I want this light in me to show.  I’m not ashamed to speak the name of Jesus Christ.”

Powerful words.  Right?

Church, are we doing this?  Or, are we sick and spreading a disease?  Is our joy, or our stench, contagious?  Are we too shy or too intimidated to spread the glorious Gospel?  Do we fear rejection too much to infect the world with God’s story of love?  Are we sorry that we have to share the truth with others? Are we sneaking around, afraid we’ll offend?

Your opinion, your knowledge of God matters.  Your opinion, led by the Holy Spirit makes a huge difference in this world.  It’s a Spirit thing!  It’s what empowers Christians to be contagious, so that the tiny germ, or seed, has power to grow and spread.  It’s how you look at life through the Holy Spirit that’s contagious.

What separates you from those who are merely “good” people doing “good” things? They don’t possess the Spirit of God that empowers us with the boldness to evangelize His world.  You’ve obeyed God by receiving His Truth and by being led by His Holy Spirit.  You’re willing to be constantly corrected and renewed.  You’re willing to be pushed beyond your human capabilities to where God’s strength kicks in.

Listen to the words of one more song by the Newsboys.  “Spirit Thing” from the same album, “GOING PUBLIC,” copyright 1994.  “It’s not a family trait, it’s nothing that I ate, and it didn’t come from skating with holy rollers.  It’s an early warning sign, it keeps my life in line, but it’s so hard to define.  Never mind, it’s just a spirit thing, it’s just a holy nudge, it’s like a circuit judge in the brain.  It’s just a spirit thing, it’s here to guard my heart, it’s just a little hard to explain.  It pushes when I quit, it smells out counterfeit.  Sometimes it works a bit like a teleprompter.  When it’s teleprompting you, I pray you’ll let it through, and I’ll help you with the how, but for now, it’s just a spirit thing.  It’s just a holy nudge; it’s like a circuit judge in the brain.  It’s just a spirit thing, it’s here to guard my heart, it’s just a little hard to explain.”

Says it all, doesn’t it?

It’s your sensitivity to that holy nudge, that circuit judge in your brain that makes the difference.  You can hear that early warning sign that keeps your heart in line.  The Holy Spirit helps you smell out counterfeit, it’s that spirit thing that guards your heart.  Don’t try to explain it, just spread it around.

For a germ to get into someone’s blood stream, it can’t be a weak germ, or the body’s healthy immune system will not let it get in.  To get the Gospel spread into the heart of someone who has built up immunity to that still, small voice of the Holy Spirit, you can’t be a weak Christian.  Some people in the world have sanitized themselves from the Gospel.  They’ve used anti-infectious walls to contain what they think of as the contamination of the Gospel.

Church, you need to be contagious.  Spread it around, because then the world can see Jesus through you.  Yes, people need to find Jesus for themselves, but by being a contagious Christian, you can show them where He lives.  Point the way.  Start the germ of belief; plant the seed of hope.  Tell them it’s okay to trust Him.  If they’re hungry, they’ll find Him.  It doesn’t always mean they’ll agree to come to your church.  But, that they may want to become a part of His Church, the family of God.  Teach them, by your life, that it’s okay to believe in prayer, in truth, in right and wrong, and in integrity.  If He lives in your heart, let people look in there and see Him.  Show them by your everyday lifestyle, not just your Sunday best.

Spread your germs…the seeds of the Gospel.  Get it into their bloodstream where it can really do its work.  Jesus’ blood covers us.  Let it flow.  Something that’s infectious changes us.  Be infectious.  Keep growing ‘til you’ve become a full-blown infection, a liberating contamination.  You’re spreading the Good News, not a disease.  Jesus offers people freedom from the disease of sin.  He’s the way to wellness.  Be so contagious that you spread it by just being in the same room with someone.  Where it will just float in the air and be inhaled by someone.  You can spread our contagious Gospel everywhere, all the time, even when you don’t see a “sick” person.  Don’t try to be a contagious Christian with unclean hands, or you’ll be prime target for satan’s contamination.  Be a healthy Christian who’s as infectious as a smile and as contagious as a laugh.

As all germs are different, so all Christians can be contagious in different ways.  Use what God gave you to invade the world’s defenses.  Max Lucado explains in his book “Cure for the Common Life” (W Publishing Group, 2005) that God packs our bag with all the tools we need to serve Him.  Max says, “God did not drop you into the world utterly defenseless and empty-handed.  You arrived fully equipped.”  So, use the unique tools, talents, and passions God gave you to be contagious in His Kingdom.

Who are the contagious Christians you know?  The ones you go to when you need prayer, or the ones you seek when you need encouragement?  Whose joy of the Lord can you feel just by being in the same room with them?  Where are the “prayed up” Christians around you?  Can you feel that “spirit thing” when they’re around?

To be contagious, get to really know people, so you can find out how satan’s lies have permeated their spirit.  People who don’t know Christ are highly susceptible to satan’s tricks.  They haven’t been exposed yet to the Truth of God’s Word.   They haven’t built up resistance or immunity to satan’s fiery darts.  They have habits that promote the spread of the enemy’s lies; and their hearts are deceived.  That’s how they become contaminated.

The Bible says, in II Corinthians 4:3-10  (CEV), “If there is anything hidden about our message, it is hidden only to someone who is lost.  The God who rules this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers.  They cannot see the light, which is the good news about our glorious Christ, who shows what God is like.  We are not preaching about ourselves.  Our message is that Jesus Christ is Lord.  He also sent us to be your servants.  The Scriptures say, ‘God commanded the light to shine in the dark.’  Now God is shining in our hearts to let you know that His glory is seen in Jesus Christ.  We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored.  The real power comes from God and not from us.  We often suffer, but we are never crushed.  Even when we don’t now what to do, we never give up.  In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again.”

Church, shine with Jesus’ light, and then let your light become contagious.  We all need to work together to spread God’s Word.  Obey God.  Speak about Jesus now, so others can find Him now.  It’s imperative that we do it now, while there’s time left.   We cannot keep quiet about what we’ve seen and heard.  Spread God’s story of love. Manifest the Gospel.  Church, the Body of Christ should be a contagious force in this world.  Let God shine in your hearts to let the world know that His glory is seen in Jesus Christ.

Don’t wait until you think you’re perfect to be contagious, we’re like clay jars (maybe even cracked clay jars!) in which this treasure is stored.  Every time you encourage a child to read the Bible and trust in the Lord, every time you pray for a need, believing God will answer, every time you rejoice in the Spirit even in a crisis, you’re being contagious and spreading God’s Word.  You’re sharing yourself, your passion and your faith for the glory of God.  Do it!

The Director of Vacation Bible School at my church in NJ, taught me many things.  I was new to the Christian walk and I was hungry to find out how to live it.  Just in passing during one of our conversations about VBS, she commented that our meeting would need to be after her morning devotions because she spent that time with the Lord.  I’d never heard about devotions and thought, “Yes, I need to do that, too!”  I could see how that kept her in tune with God.

How contagious she was without even trying!  Perhaps she didn’t even realize she was being infectious.  Maybe you won’t know either.  Do it anyway!  Be contagious from your overflow.  Spread God’s love because you’ve received it abundantly.  He’s infected you with joy unspeakable.  You’ve received much more than you’ll ever need.  Give it away.

Let’s not keep this thing from spreading.

Gracious Heavenly Father, You’ve infected us with your joy.  And it’s our joy to honor you.  Thank you for all your blessings.  Help us share your love wherever we go.  Make us bold, contagious Christians in your Kingdom with your message of hope.  Fill us to overflowing with the gift of your Holy Spirit, so we can be your servants to a lost world.  We’ll never stop proclaiming the name of Jesus.  In Jesus Name we pray.  Amen

“Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord God: for the day of the Lord is at hand: for the Lord hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.”  Zephaniah 1:7  KJV

 “So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.”  Matthew 22:10  KJV

      Many of you have traveled, taken vacations, stayed in hotels, gone on a cruise, slept on trains, roamed the country in your RVs, and been away from your home for extended periods of time over the years.  But, I think the most difficult thing is to be an overnight guest in someone else’s house!

Feelings and concerns come up because we’re the outsider in another’s territory and domain.  We’re living in someone else’s world.  In another’s space.

Just recently, I hopped on a plane in Florida by myself to visit with my sister in New York City for a week.  Though I’m originally from New Jersey, so I’ve only spent day trips in the City over the years.

Everything I experienced on this trip was technically new to me.  When I compared the two locations, nothing was the same.  Nothing!

House in Florida vs. Co-op in the City.  Palm trees, golf courses, and blue water vs. tall buildings, small cafés, and beautiful architecture.  Sunshine vs. rain.  Quiet single-family homes  vs. crowded city streets.  Driving vs. riding taxis, subways, and buses.  Early birds vs. night owls.  Peaceful silence vs. hectic, lively clamor.  Lush landscapes, beautiful horizons, and awesome sunsets vs. Broadway’s glittering lights, the harbor’s spectacular skyline, and the City’s cultural aspects.  A different world.   Different sounds, different flavors, different noises, different feelings.

When we’re guests, everything we do takes longer.  We don’t know where anything is and we don’t know the routine of the house.  We’re not self-assured, because we’re off our schedule, even if it’s a laid-back one.  We can’t find a thing, because nothing’s in its usual place.  We carried some of our essential shampoo and bathroom stuff with us, but we have no room to lay it out properly; or time to organize it.

We don’t live here; we’re just visiting, so we don’t feel completely comfortable.  We seem to tiptoe around trying to accommodate others and their schedules.  While we can have a wonderful time, we don’t know our way around, so we need constant assistance.  It’s disorienting and frustrating.

The majority of our belongings are at home…often we only have our traveling gear with us.  It’s sufficient for the trip, but we long to have all our treasures.  But those things are back home.

Since it’s not our home, we don’t have any of our normal responsibilities or chores.  We try to help, but we don’t know how things work; we don’t know where things go, or where anything is located.  We’re afraid we’ll mess up something, or break something.  Perhaps we’ll let the family dog out when he’s supposed to stay in, or let the kitty cat in when she’s supposed to be out.   We’d rather just leave the chores to the homeowner…we’ll be going back to our own home shortly anyway.  It’s annoying to both of us to have to keep asking about everything.

Sometimes, we’re afraid to venture out of the house.  Often, we don’t understand the language, or the subtle nuances of this place we’re visiting, so communication is very difficult.  We look at the architecture, scenery, and people, in a new way, which is different from the way our host views them.  We’ll hear sounds, smell fragrances, and see sights they don’t notice anymore.  On the other hand, we don’t always see pitfalls, hazards, or things to avoid that a resident or local would see quickly.  Traffic patterns, road signs, rules, and regulations may all be drastically new to us.  We may react too slowly; or we may overreact.  We’re naive…we’re unaccustomed to the area.

It would take longer than our visit to become used to our surroundings.  We’re not living here, so we depend on the one who invited us for wisdom.  To show us the ropes.  Give us a crash course in living at their house, in their neighborhood, in their city, their state, their country, their world.

When we’re visiting, we have lots of downtime on our hands.  So our host or hostess has planned all sorts of fun stuff for us to do, like tourists.  Though we bond with new people and we’re willing to try new things; often, we feel compelled to tell them things like:  “At my house, we eat at 5pm”, or “When I’m home, I go to bed at 10 pm.”  Or, “I’ve never eaten Sushi before!”   We feel we should justify ourselves, as if we’re only doing these unusual things because we’re visiting…we’re not at home!

We tend to eat improperly and develop stomach issues, because we’re “away!!”  We don’t usually follow our exercise routine either, whether we’re on vacation or on a business trip, we’re away from home!  Our stay here can be exhausting…we’re weary, but we can’t stop, we might miss something!  We’re only here for a short time, so we’ve got to keep going to get in all the sights.

At each new sight, we’re thrilled and amazed with what we see, but cautious at the same time.  It’s all different and thrilling, but we’re not sure we could “live with it!”  Perhaps it’s too quiet, or too loud; too much activity, or too little.  Too unlike home.  We like it here, but we’re not sure we’d want to live here.  It’s not our home!  We may purchase a few souvenirs, (we want our memories) but we’re lonely for our “stuff,” our house, our neighborhood, our city, our state, our country, our world.

And especially, our loved ones.  Our way of doing things.  Our pace.  Our lifestyle.  This stuff and this place were created for our host.  We want to go back to the place that was created for us by us.  Our hearts are there.

When the visit is over, we can’t wait to get home!!

Church, this is how we’ll feel when our visit to Earth is over!  It was great, but our home is in Heaven.  This world is not our home…we’re guests here.  It feels strange, we feel like foreigners.  We’re just traveling through.  Like nomads.  “Our bodies are like tents that we live in here on earth.  But when these tents are destroyed, we know that God will give each of us a place to live.  These homes will not be buildings that someone has made, but they are in heaven and will last forever.  While we are here on earth, we sigh because we want to live in that heavenly home.” (2 Cor. 5:1 &2, CEV)

Church, are you sighing?  Are you waiting?  Are you cherishing our blessed hope?  Are you ready?  Are those around you ready, too?

The Message words it this way “…When the time comes we’ll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming.”  2 Cor. 5

Since this world is not our home.  We’re uncomfortable here.

John 17:15 & 16  (CEV) says,  “Father, I don’t ask you to take my followers out of this world, but keep them safe from the evil one.  They don’t belong to this world…”

We’re outsiders in another’s territory and domain. It would take longer than our stay on Earth was meant to be, for us to become used to our surroundings.  We must depend on Jesus for wisdom, since He has overcome the world.   We must keep asking Him to show us around.  We’re dependent on His direction.  Without Him, we’re lost in a strange place.  It’s okay for us to ask, because we’re just guests.  We aren’t expected to know our way around this place.

“Don’t love the world or anything that belongs to the world.  If you love the world, you cannot love the Father.”    1 John 2:15  (CEV)

The Scripture says in 1 Tim. 6:7 (CEV), “We didn’t bring anything into this world, and we won’t take anything with us when we leave.”  No souvenirs.  Nothing lasts forever here.  God’s prepared a place for us.  Heaven is a better place.  We’ll see Jesus there.  We long to go home.  The home He created for us.

1 Peter 2:11  (CEV) says, “Dear friends, you are foreigners and strangers on this earth.  So I beg you not to surrender to these desires that fight against you.”

1 Cor. 29:15 says,  “We are only foreigners living here on earth for a while, just as our ancestors were.  And we will soon be gone, like a shadow that suddenly disappears.”   In Lev. 25:23  (CEV) God says, “…It all belongs to me—it isn’t your land and you only live there for a little while.”

Psalm 39:12 (CEV) says, “Listen, Lord, to my prayer!  My eyes are flooded with tears, as I pray to you.  I am merely a stranger visiting in your home as my ancestor’s did.”  Psalms 119:19 (CEV) says, “ I live here as a stranger.  Don’t keep me from knowing your commands.”

The Bible teaches in Hebrews 11:13-16 (CEV), “Every one of those people died.  But they still had faith, even though they had not received what they had been promised.  They were glad just to see these things from far away, and they agreed that they were only strangers and foreigners on this earth.  When people talk this way, it is clear that they are looking for a place to call their own.  If they had been talking about the land where they had once lived, they could have gone back at any time.  But they were looking forward to a better home in heaven.  That’s why God wasn’t ashamed for them to call him their God.  He even built a city for them.”

God’s built us a city.

John 17:25 (CEV) says,  “Good Father, the people of this world don’t know you…”

1 John 5:4 in the Message says, “Every God-begotten person conquers the world’s ways.  The conquering power that brings the world to its knees is our faith.  The person who wins over the world’s ways is simply the one who believes Jesus is the Son of God.”

“On this earth, we don’t have a city that lasts forever, but we are waiting for such a city.”   Hebrews 13:14 (CEV)

We desire Heaven while walking on this earth, because our hearts are there.  We’ve laid up treasure there.  Too many earthly treasures here will weigh us down.  We’ve packed up eternal treasures and sent them to our new home in Heaven, so only our traveling clothes are needed for now.  In a little while, God will call us home, until then, our tents are good enough.

Rise above the earth.   Come up, live higher.   We’re kings and priests; meant to live in the spiritual realm.  Bring another guest with you to the wedding feast.  Go out and compel them to come in.  See the world from God’s perspective:  We’re the outsiders in someone else’s territory and domain.  As C.S. Lewis put it, Christians on the earth live in “enemy occupied territory.”  Mere Christianity (New York:  Macmillan, 1943), 36.

In New York City, I got homesick for the sunshine.  As Christians, we get homesick for the Son, too.  Anxious to get home.

While we’re here, we must tell others about the Heavenly home waiting for us.  We must make sure others are going home with us.  Don’t get too comfortable here, we’re only guests.

Ephesians 6: 10-20   “Be strong in the Lord,  (who?) And in the power of His might. (whose might??)   Put on the whole armor of God, that you might be able to stand (do what?!?) against the wiles of the devil…put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand (to what?!) in the evil day, and having done all, (done how much?) To stand (to what?)…stand therefore …(why?) That I may speak boldly (speak how?)…”  (*please note!  The questions are mine!)

Listen to the song “Stand In The Rain” by Superchick…it inspired this message!

Sometimes it’s difficult to stand, because life pushes us down!!  Because sometimes…it rains.  Can’t we all name those situations in our own lives over the years when it rained in our life?  We can all click them off pretty quickly…the situations that make it seem impossible to stand.

I hesitate to mention life’s issues, because I don’t want to make light of any one of the situations that can crush us.

But, it’s time to lift our heads up!!

If we close our eyes and try picturing Jesus in front of us.   Barging through our obstacles, stepping into our situations, changing the atmosphere around us, and changing hearts…and then think, “Wow, all I have to do is stand!  Yes, the enemy wants to crush me, but I just need to stand!!”  With Jesus we can stand!  Amen!

We can’t sit.   Lie down.   Or relax.   We have to get up.  Have a backbone.  Be confident.  Stop carrying a burden meant for the Lord.  We need to just go on standing!  “Plod on,” as one of my pastors always said.  Keep on keeping on!

Notice the scripture in Ephesians doesn’t say “attack!”  The scripture doesn’t indicate that we hit people over the head with our “sword.”  We put on our armor to be strong in the Lord. And simply, stand!

Isn’t that interesting?!?  What are we standing for?  When will we move?

We’re waiting for instructions from the general.  Why?  So that we can speak boldly!!  He’ll tell you when to move!  He’ll tell you what to say!  Right now, just stand!!

So simple!  Stand!

Don’t flail around trying to get your enemy’s attention, ranting and raving to everyone.  Remember the scripture about Mary, in Luke 2:19, “… when all they that heard it wondered…Mary kept all these, and pondered them in her heart.”  No ranting and raving, just standing!  Waiting for further instructions!!

What gets God’s attention?

Standing!!!!!  It always gets God’s attention, especially if you continue to stand, even in the rain…even in the trials…even in the tribulations… even in life’s storms.

Yes, stand in the rain!!  Especially, in the rain.

It’s easy to stand on the sunny days.  In sunny Florida, we don’t expect rain…some people pray for it, when our grass is dry & fires are raging, but generally, we Floridians love the sun to shine.    Rain means we have to stand with an umbrella, be prepared not to get wet.  We have to think ahead a little, get our gear on…forget about wearing open-toed shoes, ‘cause we might get stuck in a puddle.  Sometimes it’s a lot of hassle to anticipate rain or stormy weather…and let’s not even talk about hurricanes, tornadoes, & storm shutters!!  Around here, we just think of that as a plan of the enemy!!  And we don’t like to be deterred by the enemy, or get soaked by his lies.  “Don’t let it rain on my parade!” we say.

Often, in Florida, a cloudy, rainy, cooler day is a relief.  A time to recharge.  We don’t let it deter us…we keep going about our business.

Spiritual rain is good;, too…if we get drenched by God’s Holy Spirit, we’re refreshed and ready to fight again.   We can stand our ground, even if it’s muddy!!  Even in the rain we can shine!!  If we get wet, we can wipe ourselves off, and continue to stand.

Don’t collapse in the rain!!  Stand!  To stand means to have both feet planted firmly on the ground…on a strong foundation…dug-in-deep like a palm tree that can withstand storms and high winds.  To stand means if we’re at the water’s edge, and a wave threatens to knock us over, we don’t move, we dig our feet in deep, and stand strong.  And, if the enemy threatens to knock us over, we don’t move either…we dig our feet in deep, and stand strong!

To be able to stand…don’t rest from praying.  Don’t whine.   Don’t complain.  Don’t dwell on the negative.  Surround yourself with God’s people who will lift you up in prayer.

Faith means to stand.  We’re standing on the truth that God is in control.  Don’t bend, don’t waver!   Instead ask:, “What does God say about this situation?”

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the thoughts that I have toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil to give you an expected end.”

Jeremiah 33:3 says, “Call to me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”

Here’s a quote by Tommy Tenney in his book, Experiencing God’s Presence.  “Uncertain & unable to move one step more, you are caught in the middle of what is & what can be.  At the end of yourself with nothing but the promise of faith & hope in your heart, you are in a good place.  You may not know whether to laugh or cry, but it doesn’t matter because it is in His hands now.”

We can find God’s will by praying, &andstanding!  Then…keep praying.  And…keep standing.

We pray at the foot of the cross, leave our heavy burdens there, and get in position to stand behind Jesus!

Well, when do we move?

Only when we hear his voice.  Don’t go if He doesn’t say go.  Stand directly behind Jesus, & only go forward at His command.

Why?  Because, people should only see Jesus when we’re moving!!!!

It’s useless to have all our armor on, and then just sit down, fall down, stop, or get pushed down.   Be strong!  Stand…be on guard.  We need to slow down from our busyness, and stand!!  Stop running to & fro to others for advice.  We need to be steadfast, steady, sure, & sure-footed.  Let the Bible be the light to our next step, especially in the rain…where there’s less visibility!

Especially in the rain!

What keeps us standing, when others fall?

To stand, to withstand, or to take a stand, means we’re reliable.  God can trust us to stand!

Stand eye-ball to eye-ball with God.  Then, at the foot of the cross, stand, and see Jesus.  That’s why we can stand, because from this position, we can imitate who we see.  Jesus!

If  left alone, we’ll fall.  With Him, we stand.  With others who also stand, we’re encouraged to stand and keep standing!  Amen!

Let’s stand…and then break out into a song, if we wish, because we didn’t think we could stand, but we did!  We rely on each other to stand, especially when it’s raining buckets on us!

Name names!  Who comes to your mind when you think of someone who stands, and encourages you to stand, too?  Fill in the blanks.

_______ I depend on you to stand in the rain!!

_______I depend on you to stand in the rain, too!

Tell everyone that comes to your mind, “Thank you, I know it isn’t always easy to stand in the rain.  But, I appreciate you…I need you to stand, and I need you to continue encouraging me to stand,also!”

How many times over the years have we gotten bossed around by the enemy?  And how many times have we had to take a stand against the wiles of the enemy!  Amen!

Take a stand and say to the enemy, “No, you won’t take my health!”  “No, you won’t control my finances!”  “No, you can’t have my children!”  “No, you won’t destroy my family!”  “No, you can’t steal my life!”

We all need everyone to stand.  We respect those who stand…we’re inspired by others who stand.  We love those who stand!  We need to stand, even in the rain, so we can teach our children & grandchildren, friends & family, to stand, also.

Where are we standing?  We’re standing united behind Jesus!!  Then, we can position ourselves to go with him to reach others.

God showed me the whole picture:  First, look to God!   Second, repent & leave all burdens at the foot of the cross!    Third,receive forgiveness!  Fourth, imitate the one you see-Jesus!  Fifth, put on your armour!  Sixth, stand behind Jesus!  Then, Jesus will fight your battles with the enemy!  Stay behind your commander-Jesus, to reach others!  Then, teach them to stand!  Encourage them to keep standing with you!  That’s how you make disciples!  Amen!

Standing is the right position to be in!!!  There’s no running or denying Christ!!  We’re standing…because we’re done wrestling with God!!!!!!   Nothing’s about us, it’s all about Jesus.  We can come out of the “gloomy-day” shadows.  We can let Jesus into all our life’s situations, to shed His light on our issues.  To brace us up, help us stand, and keep us standing!  Like a palm tree is braced in readiness for a storm!!  “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree!!”  Amen!

Only God dares to stand on the edge of the canyon of our lives, so we can stand without fear!

Is it hard to see through the pouring rain?

Yes, it causes discouragement, weariness… it clouds issues.  We need some sunshine. We need God’s “Son” to shine!  To stand in the light of Christ who saved us.   We were going under, we couldn’t stand any longer, but God’s arms reached us just in the nick of time!!

It’s important to know…God does the doing, we do the standing, but not on a pedestal, we’ll fall for sure, but on the solid ground of the Word of God, and His promises.

“But,” we may say, “Many of my prayers our serious prayers.”

“Yes,” God says, “Stand!!!”

My prayers are serious prayers, and maybe yours are, too!  But I’m standing!  And while I’m standing…I’m praying, loving, caring, and encouraging those I’m praying for.  I’m asking others to intercede with me, lifting their names constantly before the lord, and still standing, not cracking under the weight of their issues.

Remember…our issue is to stand!!  God’s issue is to take care of their issues.  We can be like Mary, Mother of Jesus…and hide these things in our hearts!

Many times in our lives, when we’ve chosen to stand…we can’t even begin to explain how we did it!!!  By all rights, we should have gone under.  But somehow, some way, we stood!!  We felt like dead-weight, buckling under.  It was a miracle, as we felt God pick us up, breathe life back into us, and put us into a standing position again!!

When we stand, we’re already in our armor.  Put on the armor, and then don’t sit down…just stand!!  Be on guard, suited up, and ready for instructions.  Don’t run from the enemy…fight him with the strength of God.

Look around you, and tell me…out of all the blessed people you meet, if you knew their entire life history, that you would say they had it easy!!  It’s not easy for any of us, but God’s supporting us…every time we think we’ll fall with the next hurricane-sized attack from the enemy, God picks us up again, and we find ourselves standing, in the rain, and in the storm!!

And singing in the rain, too!!  It’s amazing!!

What about those without the armor?

That’s where we can really stand, and stand out.  To reach out.  That’s who we need to be focused on.  Stand, because they’re watching us…wondering how it is that we can stand in the “rainy-stormy” situations that would destroy them.   Teach them the song we sing in the rain!  The new song that Jesus taught us…teach them how to “stand in the rain.”

How can the enemy defeat a united front of standing, spirit-filled believers with Christ in the lead???  Stand together.  Be that united front.  We’ve got our battle clothes on.  We’re in our battle stance.  Firm and unmoving ‘til our Lord gives the battle cry!  Stand, because victory is imminent!  Don’t break formation!  Not even to bend down to tie your shoelace!!

Don’t bend or sway at all…just stand!   We’ll see, when we’re in the correct position that Jesus will be in His divine position, leading us.   He’s right there in front of us!!  Where He’s so easy to see clearly, even if it’s raining!!

We should teach others to stand, but not to lean on us…this is very important!!  Here’s their position.  Standing & relying on God, not on us.  Let’s create a mighty force.  We will stand!!  By the grace of God!

Here’s a recent example in my life:  When my cousin was diagnosed with stage 1 uterine cancer, God said, “I am not afraid.”  That means:  Battle clothes on, feed on His Word, and stand with Jesus, ready for Him to fight the battle.  Amen!!  His will, will be accomplished!

So what did my cousin do?  She stood!  And is cancer free today!

We can’t accept defeat.   We’re told to stand!!  Another powerful lesson for me, when a close friend  was so sick, I physically felt her pain, and that had never happened to me before.  I just could not accept that a mother with two young children would be left helpless & hopeless, because the enemy decided her family was doing too much for the Lord!  I just couldn’t stand for that!!  That’s when we pray & stand the tallest, when we just can’t accept the attack of the devil, lying down!!  We get up, we get in his face, and we stand!!  For Jesus, and with Jesus!

We can’t fall for satan’s lies, & his tricks.  So, we must stand!!

We need to surround ourselves with others that know how to stand.  Not with those sleeping on their watch or collapsing with fatigue.  That’s why we worship and fellowship with believers.  It lifts us up.   Straightens us out.   Encourages us to get in an upright position in Jesus.

Learn to show someone else how to stand.  Be determined.  Don’t be like a stubborn child who refuses to stand when their parents tell them to…we all know what a temper tantrum looks like!

Don’t crumble, you’ll bring everyone else down.

Even when it gets breezy at times…when strong winds pick up in your life.  Stand firm.   Don’t get blown over.  Don’t lean to one side.  Stare straight ahead…that’s where Jesus is.  The people next to us, and around us are counting on us to stand.  It’s important!!  We’re an army, God’s army!!  We’re after complete victory!! Amen!

Sometimes we ask,  “Lord, what am I doing?  I’m not getting anywhere!!”  “But,” He says, “Look, it’s raining, and you’re still standing!”  Amen!!

“Let me tell you why you are here…You’re here to be light…”  Matthew 5:14-16  from The Message

“Watch what God does, then do it…God is strong and He wants you strong…”  Ephesians 5:1-21 & 6:10-18 from The Message

Whether your shoes are on, or you’re walking around barefoot, stick your toes back out of the way, because the Holy Spirit is going to step on your toes.  It’s inevitable.  I have the sore toes to prove it.

The Holy Spirit wants to change us, and sometimes it hurts.

We’re all God’s children.  We’re the light and love of Jesus that will consume the darkness.  How can we do that without allowing God’s light to change our darkness first?   We need to be light.  Do you know what the darkness in someone’s life is like?  People in darkness always have a crisis, because they can’t see.  They have no light.

We must be their light.  Don’t condemn them, Jesus didn’t condemn.

Tell people you’ll pray for them, or pray with them…they probably haven’t heard someone say that to them in a long time, if ever.  Don’t be critical, encourage them.  Be light.

Whether we’re a small light, a deep penetrating light, an illuminating light, or a glaring light depends on the differences in our personalities, but be light.  We can illuminate and expel the darkness around us.

What kind of light are you?  I’m a pretty steady light, but I know that in the past, I was just a flickering light going off and on, trying to stay lit by myself.  Now I know that the Holy Spirit wants to help me be a brighter light.

Church, we need to be many, many lights that merge into a great force in our society.  Even if we’re little lights that think our influence doesn’t go too far, all our little lights together across the world will chase the darkness.

Think of a map, lit up with every Christian in the world.  How awesome!  It’s like global networking, or a gigantic Charlotte’s web, connecting hearts.

I live in Florida where almost everyone is originally from somewhere else.  Do you know how much influence that gives us around the world?  It’s mind-boggling.  How far does your influence extend?  Let your light shine through to all your family members, friends and acquaintances.  Visit, call, write, text, e-mail, we’re all just a prayer away.

When the darkness is gone, people will see Jesus.  Eyes that have been blinded will see, ears that were deaf will hear, sickness will leave.  People will believe and bow down to Jesus.

We’re not strong.  We’re weak.  We have issues, we have baggage, myself included.  I used to think people needed to meet my pastor to be saved.  Or, go to my church.  I talked mostly about programs or activities.  Now I know they can learn about the goodness of God through me.

We pray and ask for change on the inside.  Amen.  Ask for that, receive it and be better.  But, here’s where the Holy Spirit is going to step on our toes.  And it hurts.  Tuck your toes way back out of the way and remember there isn’t anyone God doesn’t love, so it’s not a finger pointing game.

Please hear the Holy Spirit.   If our inside is filled with God’s joy, we should let it come out in how we look and act (which includes what we say).

Are we trying to please man?  No.  We want to please God.  We’re THE CHURCH.  We believe in Jesus, we’re saved; we’re filled with His Holy Spirit.

WE NEED TO LOOK LIKE THE CHURCH.  WE NEED TO ACT LIKE THE CHURCH.  WHEREVER WE GO.  WHATEVER WE DO.

Who else do we think can do the work God has given us?  We’re THE CHURCH.  Who else can truthfully say to those in darkness, “Life is hard, but God is good.”

It’s not about fashion.  I like to look nice.  It’s not about etiquette.  I like to act nice.

It’s about something burning inside us that comes out and radiates all over us and spills out onto someone else.  Onto the world.

Why us?  Why NOT us?  Why can’t we change the world?  Why couldn’t God use us?  Right now, in the place He’s planted us.

What’s stopping Him from using YOU?   What are your obstacles?  What’s keeping you from shining?  Close your eyes.  Visualize the obstacle.  Is it finances?  Is it your spouse?  Is it your children or your grandchildren?  Is it schooling?  Is it work?

Ask the Lord to help.  Talk to Him about your passions.  I believe He will find a way through those obstacles, so that your passion can be used to light the world.  Pray about it.  Go for it.  Pursue it.  Do it.  The Holy Spirit will help you.

Taking your child to Gymboree  or to a play group can be your mission field.  Going back to school or starting a new job can be your mission field.  At one time, going  to therapy for my shoulder was my mission field.

It’s not about “looking the part of a nice Christian lady or gentleman.”  It’s about looking the part of THE CHURCH.  We’re THE CHURCH.  People need to listen to us.  They need to hear what we hear from God, they need to see what God is showing us, they need to feel the love of God we feel in our hearts.  They’re lost, they’re in darkness.  We’re the Body of Christ.  Bring them the Light.

How can we get their attention?  And why would we want to turn them off?  We need to listen to God.  We need to do what God tells us to do to reach the lost at work, in our neighborhoods, at the marketplace, and in our schools.

Bring the light of Jesus with you wherever you go.

We must dress the way He tells us to dress, fix our hair the way He tells us to.  We should be healthy and weigh what He tells us to weigh.  If we don’t know, we can ask Him.  “Lord, what is your will for me?  What can I do to show Jesus’ love to those around me?”  We can’t fight God about our body.  We told Him He could use us, let’s let Him use all of us.  If He tells me to wear glasses, so I won’t be squinting all the time, until He chooses to heal my eyes completely, I need to get glasses.  If He says I lose my glasses all the time; go get contacts, so be it.  If I can’t hear and have to constantly say, “What?” and He says get a hearing aid, until He heals my ears, I’ll have to make an appointment to get my ears checked.

We’re vain.  Do you think I like getting older by the minute?  No!  But, I’m telling you, if I couldn’t control my bladder, until God chose to heal my condition, I’d wear those diaper things and be happy to have them.  It’s not easy to take care of ourselves.  It’s not always fun.  It’s time-consuming.

But, God wants us to be witnesses for Him, so He can save souls.  He put us in the world.  If someone tries to witness to me and looks and acts weird, I’m sorry, I’m from New Jersey and I’m going to be suspicious.  Let’s ask God how we can show them Jesus, not simply how religious we are.

Pray about it.  How does God want each of us to look and act?   We…who are His CHURCH?   If we’re not yet the BEST we can be for God, He can help us change.  Listen, I DIDN’T SAY “PERFECT”!  I’m still working on all this!  But, let’s be the best we can be…be the best weight, eat the best foods to fuel our body, do the best exercise we can do, wear our hair the way it looks best on us, and find the best style of clothes for ourselves.

God can empower you to reach higher, so you can reach more lost souls for Him.  Extend your influence.  Take the confidence God gives you in Him as His child and let it consume your whole being, so what you project to others is His Light and His Power.

People want to see the God you see.

When they’re in a crisis, they’ll look directly into your heart.  Give them every reason to suspect He’s in there.

Be assertive.  Look the part of the Glorious Church, the Bride of Christ.  A bride’s life is about to change and she’s headed for a honeymoon.  That’s how we should feel.  Be radiant.  Be joyful.  Be the best you can be, pray, fill up on the Word of God, be constantly filled with His Holy Spirit, put on your armor, be warriors dressed for battle, joined together, marching forward against the enemy.  That’s how you dress for spiritual warfare.  Amen.

Being the best we can be will allow us to finally get ourselves out of the way, so the Holy Spirit can move.  Be you, but be the best you, you can be.  It’s not about us.  We can’t be stubborn.  We need to listen to God when He says, “I want you to change.”   He wants us to go up to the next level in our service for Him.  Do it.  Believe me, it’s better.  Don’t be afraid, and even if you are afraid, do it anyway.   As Joyce Meyers would say, “Do It Afraid!”

He knows the plans He has for us, plans to prosper us and not to hurt us.

We don’t like change, but I believe God is positioning His Church to be a mighty force in this world.  Can you feel it?  Things are changing, God is moving.  Have you noticed that God has been putting people in your path and your light is starting to dispel their darkness?

Show God’s love.  Seeds have been planted, we need to water those seeds, and shed as much light on them as possible, so they will grow.  Don’t hold back…share God’s love by shining.

Line up with God’s plan for you to reach the world.  Some of you may be just starting out in your walk with the Lord, no problem, keep asking Him for more light.  Some of you are at a higher level already, but I believe the Lord is ready to move you higher.  Your light needs to penetrate farther.

It’s very exciting!

Church, some of the darkness may come to us and sit right down in the pew next to us.  Be ready.  It’s your light from Christ that will make their darkness disappear.  They need to see your light shining…point the way to Jesus…the Light of the World!

As God is positioning all of us, He’ll be calling some of us to go deeper into the darkness to expel it with His light.  We can’t do it without His Holy Spirit.  Be immersed in His light.

What will you allow God to change in you?  Don’t dwell on things that can’t be changed.  At five foot two inches, don’t you think I’d like to be taller, if for no other reason than to reach upper kitchen cabinets?  Don’t dwell.  Get a step stool and go on.  Be happy and celebrate the things about you that God loves.

Ask Him to change the things He needs to, so you can be who you are meant to be in Christ.  Then, see yourself as God sees you, a child of the Almighty God!

Okay, you can uncurl your toes now!!  God loves you very much.

Gracious Heavenly Father, forgive us for not seeing ourselves as You see us and for not allowing You to help us be the best we can be.  Show us areas that we can change with Your help, so we’ll be confident in rising to the next level of service for You.  We want to show Your love to others and tell them about Jesus.  Position each of us to do an awesome job for You.  We’re ready to stand up and stand out in Your Kingdom.  In Jesus Name we pray.  Amen.