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firstIMPRESSIONS
Most people don’t realize that when you open a program, the computer reserves a certain amount of memory for that piece of software to operate. Even when you close the program, the computer will sometimes continue to reserve that segment of memory, refusing to release it for other programs to use. As you open and close more programs, the computer reserves sections of memory for them to operate. Eventually, there isn’t enough memory left free for other software to operate properly. That, in turn, can keep you from getting on the Internet. Our lives are that way. When we sometimes allow sin in our lives it takes up space in our heart and mind and it reserves time in our lives that we could be using in a more productive way. As more time gets reserved, it is no longer available for more productive uses such as allowing our Creator a greater place in our lives. As one of my friends is fond of saying, “Sin takes you places you don’t want to go, keeps you longer than you want to stay, and costs you more than you want to pay.” Jesus provides us with an example of correcting this problem. In Matthew, he practiced the principle of Purity, Prayer, and Power. He went into the temple and drove out the moneychangers, thus purifying God’s temple. He then cited the need for prayer, to repair the damage. Those two were then followed by God’s power being released within the temple and the people around Jesus. The same applies in our lives. When you restart a computer, the memory is released to be used in other ways. When you restart your life following God’s Biblical plan of grace through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, you are freed from the bondage of sin. Your life is released to be used by God and you in other more productive ways. Why not hit the restart button right now? Ask God to allow the purity of Jesus to flood your life, pray for His direction in all that you do, and watch the power of God be released into your life. Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 6.16. Live for God, on purpose, dedicated to Him in everything that you do! |
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 Why Go There?
If we did a survey of what people believe Jesus spoke about the most, what do you think we would discover? I think most people would say “love.” Other responses may be “heaven” or “God”. It may surprise you to know that Jesus spoke more about h_ll than any other subject. Jesus spoke about h_ll, but no one wants to go there. Some don’t believe it exists. Some say that it is only a metaphor, not a real place. I have heard some people say they believe they are there now. Many have asked “how could a loving and kind God ever send anyone to such a place?” The reality is that h_ll most surely exists, and that every day its population increases. It matters not whether a person believes in its existence or not. It doesn’t matter if you question that God could send anyone there. People go there. Everyday. If no one wants to go there, then why does anyone ever go there? The Bible gives clear reason why people go there. In fact, there are five distinct reasons that people end up there. This Sunday morning, we will discuss this very subject as I share my message “Why Do People Go To H_ll?” This will be a strongly evangelistic message, and a wonderful opportunity to invite your unsaved friends, neighbors and co-workers. (top)  Conference on the Holy Spirit
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the modern Pentecostal movement. In 1906 in Los Angeles, California, in revival meetings conducted by William Seymour in a rented facility on Azusa Street, believers were seeking for more of God when the Holy Spirit fell upon them in the same way that took place in the second chapter of the book of Acts. As the believers gathered together, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit of God gave utterance. There will be a special Azusa Street Centennial meeting in Los Angeles this coming week on April 25-29. Concurrent with that meeting, we will hold our own Pentecost celebration here at WFA as we host a Conference on the Holy Spirit, with evangelists Tim and Rochelle Enloe. The Enloes will be in attendance at the Azusa Street Centennial, and will leave there early to begin their conference with us on Friday, April 28th through Sunday, April 30th.
The Conference on the Holy Spirit is designed to help believers go from understanding to experiencing on to practicing the ministry of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Because of this focus, specific goals are pursued, including salvation and rededication, the baptism in the Holy Spirit (with the accompanying sign of speaking in other languages as in Acts 2:4), discovering how the Spirit works in and through you, experiencing the practical, accessible empowerment of the Spirit through every Christian, and mobilizing individuals to minister in the power of the Spirit. As people grow in their understanding and experience, the “spookiness” and mysticism that they may feel about the Holy Spirit is replaced with hunger and confidence. Their fears and apprehensions are usually based on faulty pre-conceived notions about the Spirit and how He works. The Enloe’s ministry includes anointed music and preaching of the Word followed by extended times of seeking God. Many experience physical healing and spiritual refreshing. Usually 90-100% of seekers receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Invite your friends and family! You won’t want to miss a single service in this tremendous conference! (top)  How to Get to H_LL
by Rich Mullins I remember one time Beaker and I were hiking on the Appalachian Trail, and he met some friends of his, so I walked into town. It was about a five-mile walk from the campsite down the trail and down into town. And when I got there I went into a restaurant and I was having a steak, and this guy started talking to me and we had this great conversation. We were having a good time, and he said, “Hey look, it’s dark and it’s five miles up the road to your campground. Why don’t I drive you up there?” And I said, “Hey, great!” And so we got in his car, and just as we pulled out from under the last light in that town, the guy said, “You know what, I should probably tell you that I’m gay.” And I said, “Oh! I should probably tell you that I am a Christian.” And he said, “Well, if you want out of the car...” I said, “Why?” And he said, “Well, I’m gay and you’re Christian.” I said, “It’s still five miles and it’s still dark.” Then he said, “I thought Christians hated gays.” I said, “That’s funny, I thought Christians were supposed to love. I thought that was our first command.” He said, “Well I thought God hated gays.” And I said, “That’s really funny, because I thought God was love.” And then he asked me the big one. He said, “Do you think I will go to h_ll for being gay?” Well I’m a good Hoosier, and I puckered up to say, “Yes, of course you’ll go to h_ll for being gay.” I got ready to say that, but when I opened up my mouth it came out, “No, of course you won’t go to h_ll for being gay.” And I thought to myself, ‘Oh my goodness, I’ve only been in New Hampshire for one week and I’ve already turned into a liberal! What am I going to tell this guy now?’ Then I said to him, “No, you won’t go to h_ll for being gay, any more than I would go to h_ll for being a liar. Nobody goes to h_ll because of what they do. We go to h_ll because we reject the grace that God so longs to give to us, regardless of what we do [or have done].” Richard Wayne Mullins (October 21, 1955 – September 19, 1997) was an American singer/songwriter born in Richmond, Indiana. Starting in 1986, he was a well-known Christian music artist until his untimely death in an automobile accident in 1997. He is best-known for his praise choruses “Awesome God,” “Step by Step” and “Sing Your Praise to the Lord", which have been embraced as modern classics by many Christians. (top)  The Stunt Man
In an interview, actor Kevin Bacon shared a conversation he had with his six-year-old son after he had seen the movie “Footloose” for the first time. The boy said, “Dad, that was really cool how you jumped up on the roof and swung from the rafters. How did you do that?” “Well, son, I didn’t actually do that part,” said Bacon. “A stunt man did.” “What’s a stunt man?” asked his son. “That’s someone who dresses like me and does things I can’t do. Things that are too dangerous.” “Oh. Well, what about that part in the movie where you spin around on that gym bar and land on your feet,” persisted the boy. “How did you do that?” “Well, son, that was the stunt man again, not me. He’s really good at gymnastics.” “Oh.” A long pause. “Dad, just what DID you do in the movie?” Bacon sheepishly replied, “I got all the glory.” Jesus stood in for us so that we could have eternal life and share in God’s glory. He was nailed to the cross in our place, to pay for our sins, because he was the only one who could do it and emerge victorious. edited from “Still More Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks” by Wayne Rice. http://www.YouthSpecialties.com/mall/browse/#illus ©1999 by Youth Specialties, Inc. http://www.gospelcom.net/ys/ (top) 
We Are “JUST IF IED” Once I receive Christ, God looks at me JUST as IF IED never sinned!! “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” – Romans 5:18 “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification” – Romans 4:25 “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” – Romans 3:24 “That being justified by His grace we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” – Titus 3:7 “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” – Galatians 2:16 (top)  Throw It Off
by Keith Kluksdahl Everywhere he went, the man carried brightly colored balloons. He enjoyed watching them float above his head. And it was easy to hold the string in his hand or wrap it around his wrist and take his colorful balloons wherever he went. The other people where he worked were accustomed to seeing them. They didn’t mind; it brightened the office a little. Even at night the balloons would float above the man as he slept. One day he went to the fair and had a great time. At the fair he could blend into the atmosphere of the rides and lights and noise. Oh, sometimes people tried to buy his balloons, thinking he was a vendor, but of course he wouldn’t sell even one. At one of the booths he filled in a ticket to see if he could win a free ocean cruise. He certainly didn’t plan on winning, but it wouldn’t hurt to try. Yet two weeks later a telegram came—he had won! He would enjoy great entertainment and the world’s finest chef providing his meals. Talk about excited! The man started packing immediately. He was ready to go days before it was time to leave. On the morning of the big day, he called a taxi and had the driver take him to the dock very slowly. He had to go slowly because the balloons wouldn’t all fit in the taxi and he had to hold some of them out the window. At the dock he unloaded his luggage, went aboard ship, and was welcomed by the officials who had planned his trip. They even had someone take his suitcases down to his cabin while he stayed on deck and enjoyed the activity. The ship was crowded. Many people were aboard just to say good-bye to friends. Confetti, horns, streamers – and lots of balloons. He felt right at home. Eventually the visitors left and the voyage was begun. It was great! Sailing on a big ocean liner was really refreshing. It also made him very hungry. Someone told the balloon man that the evening meal was in just one hour – a welcome relief! The balloon man, still clutching his balloons and refusing to part with even one, eagerly awaited the dinner bell of this luxury cruise. When they rang the bell, he started to walk toward the dining room on the second deck. The aroma of the food was so enticing. There was one problem, though. Whoever had designed the ship hadn’t left enough room for a man with a handful of balloons to get down the passageway. You could do it if you released some of the balloons, but the balloon man just couldn’t do that. He had seen some crackers and cheese on the upper deck earlier, so he went back and ate that instead. It was good. Maybe not as good as the chef’s dinner but it was good enough. Besides, he had his balloons. That night the sunset was beautiful and it was exciting to walk along the deck. But it sure got cold quickly after that. Sea air not only makes you hungry, it makes you tired as well. He asked one of the ship’s crew where his room was, and the crewman took him down a wide hall and opened the door of his cabin. It was beautiful. They had given him one of the classiest rooms on the ship. He could see that the interior decorating was the best. And the bed looked inviting. Unfortunately, the door to the cabin was so designed that he couldn’t get all the balloons in without breaking some. He tried, but it just wouldn’t work. Back on deck he found some blankets and a deck chair. He tied the balloons around his wrist and the arm of the chair and tried to sleep. The next morning he was still tired. All that day he ate crackers and cheese and that night he slept on deck again. The next morning the balloon man received an engraved invitation from the captain of the ship. He had been invited to sit at the captain’s table and enjoy the specialty of the world famous chef. He would prepare it especially for the balloon man. All that day the man watched as the crew made preparations for the evening banquet, and at 8:00 p.m. the ship’s bell rang and the passengers began to go to the dining room. The man watched them go. Soon he could hear the murmur of voices, the sound of silverware and the clink of glasses. The aroma of the food became even more enticing. He stood at the end of the passage way for some time. Finally he walked to the back of the ship. He could still hear the dinner in progress. He reached in his pocket and felt the engraved invitation. He knew there was a special place reserved for him at the captain’s table. Then he looked up at his balloons. It was hard to do, but slowly – very, very slowly (he hadn’t unclenched his hand for years) – one at a time he uncurled his fingers. One by one the balloons began to drift away. As he watched, the wind caught them and blew them out of sight. The man turned and walked down the passageway. That night, as a guest at the captain’s table, he enjoyed the finest meal and the best companionship he’d ever known. Are you hanging on to a handful of balloons that keep you from being close to Jesus? What are the names of your balloons? Are they friends? Bad habits? Sex? Possessions? Your pride? Your popularity? Maybe it’s time to just let those balloons go so that you can enjoy the relationship with Christ that is yours for the taking. (top)  Prepare To Rise From The Dead!
The great director and producer Cecil B. DeMille was not only a man of great talent but also a man of keen insight. He shared this observation with his friends: While canoeing on a Maine lake, he noticed a horde of water beetles just below the surface of the water. One of the water beetles came to the surface and slowly crawled up the side of the canoe. Finally, struggling to the top, the beetle grasped onto the wood and died. DeMille forgot about the beetle until a few hours later when he noticed the beetle again. In the hot sun, its shell had become very dry and brittle. As DeMille watched, its shell split open and there emerged a new form, a dragonfly, which took to the air, its magnificent colors illuminated in the sunlight. The dragonfly flew farther in an instant than the water beetle had crawled in days. Then it circled back and swooped down to the surface of the water. DeMille noticed its shadow on the water. The water beetles below might have seen it too. But now their erstwhile companion existed in a state far beyond their comprehension. They were still living in their very small, limited world while their winged cousin had gained for himself all the freedom between earth and sky. When he told friends about what he had seen, DeMille concluded with this penetrating question: “Would the great Creator of the universe do that for a water beetle and not for a human being?” (top)  The Last Impression...
A local church had a big time evangelist come in for revival. On the Sunday morning at the start of the revival the visiting minister preached hell-fire and brimstone for two hours straight when the sound system finally gave out and went dead. Concerned that people in the back of the packed sanctuary couldn’t hear him the preacher asked, “Can everyone hear me OK without the microphone?” Someone on the back row raised his hand and said, “I can’t hear you back here.” A lady on the front row, who’d had about all of the sermon she wanted, stood up, turned to the guy in the back and said, “I can hear him fine from up here. Wanna trade places?” This promises to be a fantastic week here at WFA! My message this Sunday presents a wonderful opportunity for people to come to the Lord. The Conference on the Holy Spirit that begins next Friday will offer each and every person present the opportunity to grow in the Lord, and to receive the promise of the Father for all believers! Great things are happening here at WFA! Don’t miss it! |
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Yours for HIM, |
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Have you ever had a problem with your computer? I have. Often, very simple problems can become major problems. My family and friends all know that I have a fair amount of experience with computers. So, when they are having problems, I become the defacto “tech support” for them! When they are having trouble connecting to the Internet, one of the first things I ask them to do is restart their computer. Yes, that simple act can cure a wealth of problems.
