Does Jesus Care? 

Have you ever asked this question.

• • Does Jesus care about my family and I?
  • Does Jesus care that I’m sick?
  • Does Jesus care that I’m lonely?
  • Does Jesus care that I’m hurt?
  • Does Jesus care that I’m struggling…

Many have and are presently asking if God truly loves them and cares about what they’re going through.

The writer of one of Gospel’s greatest hymns (this Pastor’s opinion ) knew what it was to wonder “does Jesus care?” The author of this great song is Frank E. Graeff (1860-1919). According to one online source, he was known as the “sunshine minister.” It was said he was widely liked for his cheerful and winsome personality. C. Austin Miles, writer of the hymn, “In the Garden,” said of him: “Frank E. Graeff is a spiritual optimist and a great friend of children. His bright sunny disposition attracts not only children but all with whom he comes in contact. He has a holy-magnetism and a childlike faith.” Yet unknown to most, however, were the many severe testings and trials he had to go through. It was during a time of severe physical agony, doubt, and despair that he turned to the scriptures for help and hope for comfort and strength.

1Peter 5:7

says “cast all your cares upon Him for He cares for you.”

It was this verse especially that became meaningful to him

in his time of need, and from it came the beautiful hymn,

“Does Jesus care?” Frank answered this question in the chorus of his song; “O yes He cares, I know that He cares..” As a Pastor this song is, and has, become special to me. For even in my darkest hours, or when I’m going through some storm in life, I have found a friend who cares. I have, like Frank E. Graeff, been assured by God’s word that Jesus truly does care for you and for me. When you’re in need of encouragement, I challenge you to read the lyrics of this song and begin to sing it with confidence, being assured that “Jesus does care.”

 The lyrics to the song are as follows:

 Does Jesus care

when my heart is pained Too deeply for mirth or song,

As the burdens press, and the cares distress

And the way grows weary and long?

Chorus: Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,

His heart is touched with my grief; When the days are weary,

the long nights dreary,I know my Savior cares.

Does Jesus care

when my way is dark With a nameless dread and fear;

As the daylight fades into deep night shades,

Does He care enough to be near?

Does Jesus care

when I’ve tried and failed To resist some temptation strong;

When for my deep grief there is no relief,

Though my tears flow all the night long?

Does Jesus care

when I’ve said “goodbye” To the dearest on earth to me,

And my sad heart aches ‘til it nearly breaks,

Is it aught to Him? Does He see?

If you’re wondering if God loves you and cares about what you’re facing, put your fears to rest and understand that on the Cross two thousand years ago God proved His love for you as He died to give you life.  And He now lives to carry you through your darkest hour. Put your faith and trust in Him today. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that if you will believe in Him, you will not perish but have everlasting life”.  – P.Neyman

How to recieve the Baptism in the Holy Ghost. 

John 7:37-39

“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He who believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of Living Water. But this spoke He of the Spirit, which they who believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Spirit was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.”

Question:  Have you ever been so thirsty and found out only cool clean water could truly quench your thirst.

The body of Christ today is thirsty and in need of “Rain”. Zech 10:1 says “ask rain from the Lord…”

Know this that Jesus here in John 7:37-39

is offering the Holy Ghost to anyone who is thirsty, 

1.  Thirsty for salvation

2.  Thirsty for sanctification

3.  Thirsty for Healing & deliverance…

Jesus offers it, the question is “will you recieve it?”

I as a Pastor in Gods word am being challenged to keep a “Pentecostal piriority“, to keep the message of Pentecost at the forefront of your thinking and your expirence.

Someone may ask:  “Why“, Why this message? 

The answer to that is, We preach this message because it’s what a thirsty World/Church needs.  The baptism in the Holy Ghost is what the Church needs, its what the pulpit needs, its what the pews need. We all need to drink.  

side note:  

The baptism in the Holy Ghost is an operation of the Holy Spirit distinct and separate from His work of saving a person, yet, this experience follows a persons being saved.  To be Baptized in the Spirit means to be filled with the Spirit speaking in tongues. And this being filled is for a purpose. “To be His witness”

Every believer needs this expirence, all need to drink of this water.

Understand, as water quenches the dryest mouth, so to will the Holy Ghost quench the dryest soul.

John 7:37-39 uses the term “Living water” here Jesus likened the fulness of the Spirit in the believer to “Rivers of living water”. For the believer who is truly filled with the Holy Ghost Jesus said that “out of his inner most being ” shall flow rivers of living water.

Isa 44:3 says “I will pour water upon him that is thirsty…” Know it is Gods promise and its His desire to “pour out unto you”. This term suggests an “inflowing”, a “overflowing”, and an “outflowing”, – as a river breaking loose from its banks. so to does God want to flow in and through you to a hurting and dying world.

1.  One reason Jesus used water as a symbol of the Holy Spirit is because:

water brings life

water refreshes

water cleans

water purifies

water is one of the basic requirements of life. We must have it for a healthy Physical/Spiritual life.

2.  When the fulness of the Holy Spirit is within us, there will be a flow of His presence out through us, touching and blessing others.

3.  You need the river. Find where the river is and by faith leap in.

The river is flowing here at Full Gospel Church Catlin, get in, get involved with the moving and operation of the Spirit here and you will be refreshed.

Again Jesus is offering the Holy Ghost to anyone who is thirsty,

the question is will you recieve it?

There are some reading this now who are saved, you are a believer, Yet, your thirsty and longing for a drink of the Holy Spirit, but, you have been reaching for something other to quench your thirst and your coming up dry. Its here you must begin to “reach out for Jesus“, for He has promised to give you the real thirst quencher! (Acts 1:4-8)

Someone reading this may be asking:  “How do I recieve the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evedience of speaking with other tongues?”

1.  You recieve by being thirsty for God. v.37 “if any man thirst” –  This thirst means the “ardent, eager, famishing, keen, and all consuming craving and passion of the soul for complete union with God and the fulness of the Spirit.” theres got to be a hunger for God and the things of God.

2.  You recieve by coming unto Jesus. v.37 “let him come unto me”  – This means the complete surrender of the life to God, it means you come unto Christ by faith in what He has done at the Cross. Bro. Jimmy Swaggart once said:  “A person must accept Jesus as savior before he can experience the baptism with the Holy Spirit.” (Jn 14:17) – You must be born again!

3.  You recieve by drinking:  v.37 “And drink” –  This means and speaks to the whole-hearted reception of God and His promises. It means the recieving into ones life the gifts, the fruit, and the moving and operation of the Holy Spirit. – You must come in faith believing!

4.  You recieve by believing on Christ as the scriptures hath said. v.38 “He who believers on me as the scriptures has said…” This means to believe in and obey the whole Gospel.  

Jesus as savior

Jesus as Healer

Jesus as King 

And also Jesus as baptizer in the Spirit.

Far to many stop short of all that God has for them They settle for “a part and not the whole.”

Please understand, the baptism in the Holy Ghost is given to them who:

1.  Are thirsty

2.  Come unto Jesus

3.  Drink in and recieve 

4.  Believe what the scriptures hath said, and the scriptures say:  That those who are saved and come in faith will be filled with the Spirit and they will speak in other  tongues, it is the initial physical evedence of this experience.  (Acts 2:4; 10:44-46; 11:15-17; 19:2,6; 1 cor 14:39)

Again Jesus offers this expirence to anyone who is thirsty,

but again the question is will you recieve it?

Know:  you are prepared to recieve if you are born-again

Know:  that the Spirit has been given, you now just need to recieve

Know:  that you recieve it by faith.

Acts 2:4 teaches us that the Holy Spirit will enable you to speak in tounges, but its you the believer who does the speaking. Do not fear that you will fall prey to a counterfiet experience, if you are sincerely seeking God for His gift He will not allow anything to mess it up. The Bible says “Ask and you shall recieve” Know that “The good Father in Heaven will give the Holy Spirit to them who will ask.” (Lk 11:13)  – P.Neyman