RUSSJONES.US

Do you like birthday presents?  Christian presents?  Presents for any occasion?  Sure you do!  Who doesn’t?  So what about gifts from God? 1 Cor 12 1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.  4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.  7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to an

This sunday starts our new series,  How To Minister To Zombies.  So many people in our day and time are so facilitated by tales of the supernatural - vampires, werewolves and such, but I think that Zombies are a good fit.   So much that we see on TV - Internet and read is about how this world is going to fix itself.  How humanity is going to evolve and change.  Creating a utopia of perfection for us to live in.  No sickness, no pain, no disease, no crime, no need - just perfection.   That’s nice, I believe that will happen one day too.  I read Revelation Chapter 20 and see it there to (It’s called the Millennial Reign) But I don’t believe that mankind is going to evolve or change - I believe that Jesus is coming back to rule and reign over the earth.   But this worldly version of perfection is the one that scares me.  It doesn’t include God or even believe in His presence in our hearts and lives.  It’s as if He doesn’t even exist.  What is life without God?  Nothing.  One can be alive

The Olympics are on.   For the next few weeks we are going to see some of the best and brightest this world has to offer compete for gold, silver and bronze.  I am sure there will be some upsets and surprises.  Inspirational stories and disappointments.  But for these young people, they have worked their whole life for one shot at the gold! So how can you realize your dreams?  Here are a few things that you need to do. #1 - Know your purpose - If you strap yourself to a dream that isn’t a part of who you are - all you will experience is a nightmare.  #2 - Take the time to do it right the first time.  That requires patience.  Any dream that is worth anything is worth waiting for.   #3 - Work hard.  You can’t get around this one.  If your dream doesn’t drive you, then all you have is a day dream.   #4 - Sacrifice - Dreams have to cost you something in order for you to believe in them.  A dream that is free will never be valuable to you or anyone else.  You have to

Of you would have told me that the restaurant chain, Chick-Fil-A was going to be in the center of a firestorm over gay rights - I would have chuckled, “Yea right.”  But here we are.  I just read that there are cities who are saying that they are going to block Chick-Fil-A’s from being built in their cities.  (I seriously question the legality and constitutionality of that.)   The whole gay marriage issue isn’t going to go away anytime soon and I doubt that Chick-Fil-A is going to be the last organization to state it’s opinion about such matters.  Chick-Fil-A is a huge supporter of marriage, dedicating some of their profits to help marriages make life long transformations.   Former Gov. Mike Huckabee has called for Aug. 1 to be national Chick-Fil-A day, asking everyone to go and show your support for a business that isn’t afraid to take a stand for marriage.   So if you want to, go and eat some chicken!! But here is something that you need to start paying attention to. 

The ability to hear the Holy Spirit at a moments notice seems to be a lost art.  But nonetheless, it is necessary for each and everyone of us.   Sometimes people will ask me questions about their life or family.  Their future or their past.  I will ask them if they have prayed about it - they will say YES!  I will ask, What did God say?  That’s when I get this confused look.  I’ve been to enough concerts, been in enough loud cars with booming stereos, enough churches with awesome sound systems to know - you can’t carry on a conversation with all that noise going on.  Now I don’t have anything against loud concerts - I came to hear the music, not talk.  I don’t have anything against loud cars - I want to listen to my tunes.   I don’t have anything against loud worship - I want to connect to God.   When we have to much noise in our live - how can we hear God?  Being sensitive to the Spirit requires us to take the time to listen.  Stop what you are doing today and . . . 

I suppose if you live long enough, you see and hear so much that is wrong with this world, you can become jaded.  When the news of the shooting in the Aurora theatre reached me I thought, “Oh God, not again!”  How in the world could something like this happen in our day and time? But I am reminded of a few people from history whose atrocities would leave most people breathless.  I could mention Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot and others.  But I was thinking about some from the Bible Pharaoh who ordered the murder of every male Israelite child born in Egypt.  King Manasseh supposedly had the prophet Isaiah stuffed in a hollow log and sawed in half.  King Herod who had the children of Bethlehem murdered, (seeking to kill Jesus) The Romans who mercilessly crucified people without justice or mercy.  And there's more! As long as sin is in this world - people have the potential to do the worst they can think of.  Apparently, the person accused of killing 12 people

No, not the movie.  Forgiveness vs. Bitterness These two titans can rule over our life with an influence that can change our world.  Forgiveness opens the floodgates of healing, grace, mercy and peace. Bitterness opens the floodgates of rage, anger, resentment and pain.  When we forgive, we are the recipients of God’s mercies in our life.  But when we remain unforgiving we are the recipients of our own pain and anger.  Bitterness is like an illusions cape.  On the outside, it looks normal, but behind its dark shadow lurks and whole world that can ensnare and trap people in its clutches.   I’ve seen families, businesses and churches destroyed by one persons bitter rage.  Morphed into a false reality that can envisions the worst and never gives opportunity to the best.   So today - which titan is going to rule over your life?

When God makes Himself known - He really knows how to make an entrance. All month I have been ministering about the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, evidenced by speaking in other tongues.  This morning 3 people were baptized in the Holy Spirit and I mean they were BAPTIZED!  Others received an awesome touch from God and I do believe they will be speaking in tongues soon. I announced this morning that the series, "How to minister to Zombies" would start next Sunday.  I forgot that July had 5 Sunday's in it - so I will not be.  Sorry, my bad.

If I have had this conversation once I have had it 100 times.  No joke.   Someone comes to me and says, “Pastor, I was baptized in the Holy Spirit, but I didn’t speak in other tongues.”  Well first of all - I am not going to start an argument.  I don’t doubt what they are saying - what they believe or what happened to them.  But here is my position.  The Bible always overrules my personal experience.   In other words, The Word of God is supreme to my opinion.  While I do believe that God has and will continue to touch peoples lives in powerful and wonderful ways - the best and strongest Biblical position for the evidence of the Baptism is speaking in other tongues.   Now if you disagree with me - that’s ok.  I’m not mad at you do don’t get mad at me.  But don’t start sending me emails telling me how I’m wrong.  The simple truth of the matter is this - your experience is your experience.  You cannot use it to determine what the Bible says - you cannot use it with gre

No it isn’t Friday.  TGIF stands for Thank God It’s Forgiveness.   There are a few famous lines over the years that have amused me.  Bill Clintons “It’s About the Economy Stupid.”  I just read this one the other day.  “It’s about Jobs!” They are both wrong.  It’s about Forgiveness.   Without forgiveness, we would live in a world where teenagers murder people without conscience.  Where neighbors sue each other over trivial things.  We would live in a world where lawmakers would have to legislate morals and values to society.  It would be a world where those who teach and practice forgiveness would be label “crazy” and “lunatics”.  Without forgiveness there would be a nationwide hunger for balance and stability.  People would look to education, the economy or the government for help.  But without forgiveness, none of these institutions would be able to offer much, if any at all.   When people stop forgiving each other, they doom themselves to live their lives vicariou

Well I did some research, (google) and after much time (about 30 seconds) I discovered that someone had zombiefied Jesus. The theme is simple.  The only way that He could have risen from the dead was if He was a zombie. Ummm, NO! When Jesus walked out of the tomb He wasn't the un-dead zombie like some people might try to portray Him.  He was and is alive and well - just like you and me. And that's the message that the Church needs to be sending into this world.  That with Christ we are no longer the walked dead, but we are alive - renewed and resorted to our original intention - to worship and serve Jesus with all our heart, soul, mind, body and strength. During August my sermon series is "How to Minister to Zombies"  You may not know it, but your may be surrounded by them.  To adapt the famous line from the movie, "You see dead people!"

One Sunday a guest at our morning worship service walked up to me and asked, “What language were you speaking this morning?”  I told her it was a heavenly language.  “Say what?” was her surprise.   For the next few moments I share with her what the Bible says about the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, evidenced by speaking in other tongues. I had asked her if she had been in a Pentecostal church before?  She said, No.  I asked her if she had ever heard of divine healing or the the Holy Spirit?  She said, No.  I asked her if she knew why Jesus went to the cross for her.  You guessed it, No.   She was in town on vacation and a friend of hers suggested she attend our church.  Well after a couple of more Sundays, Wednesday Bible Studies, and a lot of phone calls, she could answer all of those questions an more.  But it was time for her to go home and end her vacation.  We were able to connect her to a good church in her hometown and she became a great asset to the church and a great

In Acts 2 we see 120 people speaking in other tongues.  A few minutes later Peter gives an altar call and 3,000 people were added to the church that day.  WOW!!   But think about this.  Would these 120 have been able to replicate these results without the Baptism in the Holy Spirit?  The simple answer is, No - they couldn’t.  They needed God’s help.   There has been a lot of debate about how this happened?  Well as I read Acts 2 I read that 120 people spoke in tongues and a crowd of people heard the praises of God in their own tongues.  Realizing that these people were not fluent in their native language they recognized that they were in the presence of God and that they were witnesses to a miracle.   Fast forward 2,000 years.  What has changed?  The world has, but God hasn’t.  He is still working the same way He did 2,000 years ago - at Azuza street - In Pentecostal churches during the Charismatic Renewal of the 70’s - In AG churches all across the midwest and south -

Are There Zombies in the Bible? Matthew 27: 51 - 53  51  At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. 52 The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. Now let’s not get into the whole “theology of zombies” thing here.  I’m not trying to establish that.  But the whole, dead, un-dead thing here is pretty awesome.   Next month, on Sunday’s at 10:30 a.m. I am going to preach a series entitled, “How to minister to Zombies.”  The point of this series is simple.  Supernatural problems need supernatural solutions.   There are LOTS of people in this world who are the “walking dead”.  Dead in Christ but alive in this world.  They look at those of us who have put our faith in Jesus and think that we are “crazy”, “possessed” or “brainwashed”.  We are

In a grand world of economics we talk about GNP - imports - inflation and so much more.  But I want to focus a few minutes on exports.  That which we send out from the good ol USA. Is our greatest export in 2011 was  . . .  fuel.  It was for refined petroleum products - but I think that there is one greater than that. Missionaries The greatest thing that our country sends to other countries are the men and women who declare and embody the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  These men and women represent the heart and soul of who we are and what we believe.  The greatest thing about it is - we don't charge for this export.  In fact we pay for it. However, a VERY disturbing trend is beginning to show it's ugly head.  Missionaries are seeing a 50% reduction in their monthly incomes because churches stop or struggle in giving.  Now let me address that for a moment. It's feast and famine time.  That means that churches having seasons of great income followed by a season of radi

My kids are doing what I expect of them.  By employer isn't keeping their promises.  My marriage seems to be getting worse.  I don't think God is hearing my prayers.  Who cares? When things are not going our way - we need to ask ourselves a few things. Is the direction you are going in, the direction you should be going in?   I drive to Lakeland quite frequently.  One day a friend of mine suggested a new route to my destination.  I thought, "Why not?"  After the trip I remembered why I choose my original route.  Just because someone thinks that they have a better way, doesn't mean that it is. Is your destination you are trying to reach the destination you should be trying to reach?  One time I got in the car with my family and started driving.  My wife asked me, "Where are we going?"  I said that I was going to keep driving until I felt better.  (I don't suggest that you do this.)  Well after a hundred miles, my wife was wondering if Maine was going

There is an aspect to Pentecost that most people just don’t understand #1 - It’s timeless.  God never changes (Say “Amen”)  Because of that, what He did 2,000 years ago is still the same today.  His baptism and His presence is still wonderful and it is still the same.  The same empowerment that came upon Peter, the Apostles, Paul and the early Church is the same empowerment that comes upon us today.  No difference - got it? #2 - Things are always changing.  What God is doing through the Holy Spirit is always changing our lives.  And get this!  His mercies are new everyday!  God is always doing something new in our lives - He is always doing something that leaves us in awe of His power and glory.  His presence is always amazing us!  He never changes - but He never gets boring or predictable.   Timeless change.  It is a beautiful thing.  Most Christians I know try to fight it - but don’t!  Let Jesus do what He wants to do and discover that He has something beautiful just

I have been in the process of writing my own manifesto.  (Manifesto:  a declaration of intentions, opinions, objectives, or motives.)  The word has got a bad rap over the last few years as more than a few disreputable organizations have declared their manifestos to the world.  (Anarchy garnished with a healthy dose of crazy!)   But if I were to ask you to write out a manifesto for your life - what would it say?  What would you be willing to declare publicly, for the whole world to know, about you? Would you address your weaknesses or trumpet your strengths?  Would you rail against what bothers your or praise what you think is right?  I don’t know so much about all of this, except to say - I think that we all need to say, without any doubt in our heart, what it is that God has called us to do.   A manifesto shouldn’t trumpet the man - but it should declare how the man is going to submit to his Creator.  It should be about how the man is going to serve himself - but it sh

Boy, it’s hot out here!!   To use who have lived in Florida - we know what this statement means.  A - If it is said by someone in May or June.   They are from out of state.  B - If it is said by someone in July or August.  They are from out of state, but have lived here 2 years or less.  C - If it is said by anyone who has lived in Florida for more than 3 or so years.  It is really hot! Today, the high will be 93.  That’s hot, but wait till late August!!   In Springfield Missouri, it was 97 degrees with 30% humidity.  For us here in Florida, that’s no so bad.  Hot, but bearable.  That’s because our humidity will be around 80+%.   Here is my point.  What is bad for you, necessarily isn’t that bad.  When we focus on ourselves, our moment, our place and our time - then compare it to only what we know - it’s bad.  But when we look beyond ourselves, beyond our world - we may discover hope.   Perspective is a funny thing.  I have great perspective, as long as I’

Years ago there was this bumper sticker going around that said, “God is my co-pilot.”  Then someone said, no that is wrong and new stickers were made that said, “God is my pilot.’ (Implying that we were the co-pilot.)  Well that’s better, but still wrong.   Now if I were to be theologically correct.  I would have to say that God is my pilot - Jesus is the co-pilot - the Holy Spirit is the Navigator.  Where am I.  Well I would be happy checking the air in the tires on this plane.  But the reality is - God wants me right up there with Him.   God isn’t going to lead your life unless you are going to follow.  He isn’t going to take off without you.  He wants you to be a part of what He has planned for you.  So, are you on board?  

No your not! Now that I have your undivided attention - let me explain.   On this day of Independence - we discover that our forefathers were declaring their Independence from England.  But they were never declaring their independence from God or from each other.   They knew that if they were going to pull this off - that if they were going to survive, they would have to work together.   There is a misnomer today that we are a people of Independence.  That we don’t need anyone or anything.  We can survive on our own - thank you very much.  Well the reality is, you can’t do that.   You depend on people for your food - your electricity - your gasoline - your medical care - your financial future and so much more!  We are a culture of interdependent people.  Without each other, we would be nothing.   So follow along, independence isn’t really worth anything to you or me.  What I mean is quite simple.  We really can’t do anything of any significance on our own. 

Depression is a dark place to be - I know - been there and done that.  I’ve admitted that I have been burned out - over worked - discouraged and depressed.  I would think that all of us have felt this way at one time or another.   Years ago I had a minister tell me that he had never experienced any of these things.  That his prayer life was so strong that he was immune from such things.  I wondered what kind of drugs he was taking?  When do you fight back from these things? Right Now!  Don’t give in another moment.  I’m not telling you to be like the minister I described above.  Denial isn’t the way to deal with these things.  But admit that you have a need.  Tell someone you trust and love that you are going to do something.  Even if you don’t know what to do right now.  Tomorrow!  Most likely you are in a cycle of behavior that isn’t helping you get out of this dark place.  Change the cycle.  Get up earlier and go for a walk.  Do something different.   Don’t Stop!  Make plans to talk

Obamacare?  Elections?  Wall Street?  Syria?  Heat Wave?  What is really important? Well all of this has some kind of impact on our lives - but that doesn’t make it important does it?  These are things that we respond to accordingly.  Help people suffering in the heat wave.  Vote: it’s your right to do so.  And so on.  Most of the time, what we care about is what scares the daylights out of us.  Cancer - Bankruptcy - Divorce and more!  While each of these are heavy things to deal with - don’t allow them to become the most important thing in your life.  There is someone that is more important.   Make God more important than this worlds ills and your needs today.  It doesn’t diminish  their potential - but it does offer you a worthwhile solution to you today.  Be encouraged.  God is bigger than any fear you might face today.