Looking Forward To New Beginnings

     I recall so many New Year's sermons from the pulpit titled "You Can Begin Again", all preaching the truth that we serve a God of new beginnings.  And I don't want to repeat this message in a trite manner but rather, the purpose of this post is to exhort us all to step into new identities in 2018.
     As Bill Johnson says, the new year is really "the nature of the Christian life.  We are born again; given a new beginning". We are all familiar with God's nature of Grace, giving us second chances when we repent and turn towards Him. But how many of us are stuck in our pasts and can't move forward into that new beginning and new identity?
     That is what I hope to address today.  Because, you see, the one thing that I really want you to understand is the truth of Lamentations 3:22-23, which says,  It is because of the Lord’s lovingkindnesses [mercies] that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions never fail^. They are new every morning; Great and beyond measure is Your faithfulness. This is the word of God telling us that each morning is a new day with Him; a new start and a new beginning to make progress towards a life that abides wholly in Him. 
     It is important for us to understand that "abiding in God" gives us, not only a promise of restoration from captivity by the Enemy, but of remaining in the presence of God, Himself.  That means that we must stop looking back at past failures and past disappointments. We must have faith that God can help us develop new attitudes, new goals, and new hearts. But that means we must believe it is possible to begin again, and become a new person in Christ.

     I know that there are many people who are beginning 2018 with a lot of pain.  Whether it be failing health, failing marriages, or failing hope, it just seems that others [or God] have let them down. And there are those of you who are disappointed in yourselves, thinking that there is no future or way to move forward in your goals, including your relationship with God.  But that is NOT what the Word says!
     The Bible says in Lamentations that we have access to the Lord's mercy and compassion and faithfulness towards us. Whose fault is it if we don't take advantage of that, or walk in faith towards that truth?  I will admit that we fight a spiritual battle against an enemy that seeks to steal, kill, or destroy our hope, joy, and faith. But we have been given spiritual armor to effectively fight that battle. And as I've heard more than one pastor point out, there's not a piece of that armor that is positioned on our back -- it is all for our forward progress!  Looking back at our past mistakes and failures only serves to keep us from the new beginning and identity God wants to give us!
     The Reverend Tony Cooke writes on his website about historical men who serve as our example for moving forward from past mistakes and failures.  Let me share a few...
     Abraham Lincoln's mother died when he was nine years of age. At 23, he invested in a small store. Three years later his business partner died, leaving him in debt for years to come. At 37, on his third try, he was finally elected to Congress. He ran again two years later but wasn’t re-elected. Two years later he was rejected for Land Officer. At 45, he ran for Senate and lost. Two years later, he lost the nomination for vice president. At 49, he ran for Senate again…and lost again. At 51 he was finally elected president of the United States, but with only 40 percent of the popular vote. Yet I believe God used him to keep our nation from destroying itself.
     Moses' initial try to convince his brethren that God would deliver them from Egyptian bondage failed, and he spent 40 years in exile before he believed more in God's new offer of mercy [and guidance] than in his own past mistakes. He was willing to believe that God's compassion for the Israelites would never fail, and that a new day of freedom was available and waiting for them.
     There is no one in the Bible that I can think of who had more reason to regret his past mistakes than Peter.  He professed his eternal allegiance to Jesus, yet rejected Him three times in His hour of need.  But we must not forget that Jesus knew Peter would fail Him, but He loved Peter; saved him; and called him to His service anyway.  Do you not think that He will do the same for you?
     These are only a few examples of men who rose above their past mistakes to walk in new beginnings. They didn't let their failures in life keep them stuck in place, or focused on the past, or hinder them from walking into a new identity.  Abraham Lincoln could have embraced an identify of failed businessman and politician. Moses could have hidden out in Midian, having lost his exalted title and position in Egypt, and never have been heard from again. Peter could have spent the rest of his years in disgrace and shame and guilt for having abandoned his Master.  But each of these men answered a call upon their lives and were renewed, restored, and regenerated.  They were each given a new and higher spiritual nature and identity.
     That is what God wants for you!  I urge you to look upon this new year with expectation and a desire for a new and greater identity. Stop listening to the lies that the Enemy is telling you, and start this new year by declaring that you are a new creation; that God is doing a new thing in you; that you have a renewed spirit, mind, and heart; that you are forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, pressing on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus... and finally, that our God is a god of Creation, not of destruction or disappointment. This new year is full of opportunities for you! Reach for them, accept them, and walk in them. And trust in God's faithfulness to grow you! Happy New Year!

Ephesians 4:20-24    "But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about Him and were taught in Him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness". 
 
    

The Hope and Expectations For 2018

     Thanks to Charey, one of the faithful readers of this blog, I have been introduced to the writings of Daniel K. Norris, a minister who travels full time bringing a message of repentance and revival, and challenging believers in their walk with God. His desire is to see the Church experience the power and presence of God and yield a harvest of souls for the kingdom. 
     As I read his analysis of a project that he and his family experienced in 2017, I was amazed at how similar our perspective is on what God is doing among the faithful.  So, I wanted to share his testimony, and thought you would be blessed by it as we get ready to enter 2018. Read and contemplate...

     We sold everything (our cars, furniture and home) in 2016 and moved our family of five into a motor home to travel the entire United States in 2017 on a tour we called the Trail Of Fire. This week, we arrived back where we started. We covered 50,000 miles, visited 47 states and connected with 80 amazing ministries.

     This past month, the question I have been asked the most is "What is your biggest takeaway?" Curious?  

     One thing this year has done for us is this: it has given us a national perspective. We didn't just pass through a city or state, we lived there. We didn't just minister in the church. We walked their streets, bought groceries in their supermarkets, sat in their homes and around their tables. We spent time getting to know them and listening to their stories. Our lives have been greatly enriched because so many were willing to share their own lives with us. 

     It's been a blessing! We set out in January of 2017 dreaming about the impact we could make on the nation; however, we never considered the impact the nation would make on us. We have truly been changed by this year for the better!

     Ultimately, we found a great remnant across the land that also carries the same burden for national awakening. These churches, ministries, revival hubs and houses of prayer are strategically positioned across America. They are a faithful battalion of believers that have made seeking a greater awakening for their city a priority.

     This year has greatly encouraged me about the possibilities for national awakening. I believe that true nationwide revival is not just a distant dream, but an imminent reality if we will pay the price. I assure you that though the full breakthrough we've prayed for may tarry, we ourselves are not tarrying in vain!

     So, what was my biggest takeaway from 2017?

     Just as I am encouraged at all we saw and experienced, I also see a tremendous need. I believe the church, as a whole, has lost its eternal perspective. So much of what occupies our present time is making little eternal impact. This must change if we have any hope of true revival.

     This week I came across the following in a book called In Light of Eternity. It is the biography of the late great revivalist, Leonard Ravenhill. At the end of the book the biographer writes the following account. He asked Ravenhill in the last year of his life if he had any regrets. This was his response:

     "If I had spent more time alone with God rather than preaching and planning how I was going to change the world, I would be a very different man."

     Stop and read that again! "If I had spent more time alone with God rather than preaching and planning how I was going to change the world, I would be a very different man." I pray it hits you like it did me!

     Ravenhill was a man with a colossal prayer life. He would often spend entire days locked away in his study in prayer. I've heard unbelievable stories about the prayer meetings he hosted. The man was a giant in prayer, yet here he was, at the end of his mortal life, with eternity in view and his response was, if only I had prayed more and preached and planned less.

     If such a man could say this, how much more should we!

     That quote only reinforced what I had been feeling over the past few months—that so much of what the church world is doing right now is missing eternal intentionality. Let's be honest, we could all say, "If we spent more time alone with God this year, rather than—(preparing that sermon series, watching television, golfing, on Facebook), I would be a different person right now."  

     Interestingly, here we are back where we started, and I find myself confronted with a truth I wrote about one year ago in my book, Trail of Fire. Fifty thousand miles traveled, only to arrive right where we began. I am convinced the Lord gave us this assignment to give us His perspective on a serious need within the American church. This is the key to unlocking national awakening—we must bring eternity into view.

     I said above that much of what the church occupies its time with carries very little eternal significance. Most of what we call "ministry" is really day-to-day maintenance. Granted, this daily maintenance is necessary, and when done properly, it allows us to actually do ministry. However, let's not confuse the two as being the same thing.

     This is true for individuals and churches. Whether it is working a 9-5 just to make one more paycheck so you can make one more payment or if it's one more Sunday so we have one more offering just to keep the wheels spinning one more week, the effects are temporal, not eternal.

     I think back to all the meetings, the plans, the series, the programs, the budgets, the tasks that I let dominate my time and realize much of it could have been eliminated or done more efficiently, allowing more time to pray and truly love others. At one time, I called all of it ministry and was proud of my busy ministry life. Looking back through the lens of eternity, I see so much of that was arrogance. It is only the things that impact eternity that can truly be called ministry.

     This year, I stood by a man and watched as he was born again. What a moment to witness and share with him. I've seen this so many times this year. There is nothing like seeing eternal life come into what was once a broken soul. That moment changed eternity, not just for him, but for his family as well. I think about the orphans in Uganda we were able to help through our giving. Yes, it was a simple thing that simply met a temporary need. However, it also enabled a local church to show the love of Christ to them as well. That moment impacted eternity. This was ministry! We should have, could have done more!

     The key to true eternal impact is found in learning to minimize the maintenance so we can maximize the ministry. This shift is made simple by adopting an eternal perspective.

    Jonathan Edwards often prayed, "Oh God, stamp eternity upon my eyeballs."  He endeavored to live each day with eternity firmly fixed in view. The result was America's First Great Awakening. Ravenhill wrote that were we to be so bold to pray such a prayer, we would likely change everything we do.

     Now, there's a thought. Ravenhill went on further to say, "Five minutes inside eternity and we will wish that we had sacrificed more, wept more, grieved more, loved and prayed more, and given more."  Oh, my friend, if that statement is true, then a great deal must change. If we truly desire to see more in the coming year then we need to start living with eternal intentionality today.

     So what do we do?  Let's start here. Take a moment to evaluate 2017 in light of eternity. What things have you done that will make a difference 10 years, 100 years or even 1,000 years from now? Take a look at your checking account. How much money went into temporary things and how much went into things that will last?  How much more could have been moved toward eternal purposes?  Look at your calendar. How much time was wasted in frivolous activities and how much was sown into eternity?

     I admit, this is a sobering exercise, but it is necessary. Too often, we treat time as if it is something that can be wasted. However, eternity leaves no time wasted. Each second is precious and must be invested wisely.

     Here are three eternal priority shifts we must make this year:

1) Prioritize the Secret Place. Rather than letting that place of prayer and devotion be the last place you run to, let it be the first place. We must tackle each day and every problem from the same starting point. There is no getting around this. Prayer must be paramount.

2) Prioritize the Word. God's Word is eternal, powerful and life-changing, but it does you no good as long as the words sit unread on the shelf. The American church is becoming increasingly and biblically illiterate. If you're a pastor, I encourage you to minimize the trivial sermon series that offer a few verses and take your congregation into actual study of biblical texts. Let's preach the Word and let the Word transform them. Don't just give your people verses, give them the Word. For the rest of us, let me encourage you to adopt a daily reading plan. Get the Word in you!

3) Prioritize Eternity in your Present. Every day is pregnant with eternal possibilities. Most go unnoticed and unrealized. Make it a daily goal to look for one eternal moment in each day. You'll be surprised how many there are.

Eternal intentionality is the key to making 2018 more significant. Eternal intentionality is the key to getting the church on track toward awakening. Eternal intentionality is the key we've been missing. It's time we find it.

     WOW! I feel like I could have written so much of this article! And there are several perspectives that struck me as identical to my views. First of all, I am in agreement that there is an awakening and revival among the faithful remnant of this country. And as I have written, God is now connecting us, making for a bigger impact for the Kingdom of God. 
     Then there is the idea that Daniel Norris presents that the Church has become all about "Maintenance".  I would expound upon that and say it has become a Business. The Church's efforts are too often spent more on budgets and programs, than equipping the saints to continue the work of Jesus.  And I agree with Mr. Norris, that this applies to us as individuals, too.  It is sobering when we look at where we spend our efforts -- both financially and spiritually.  How many hours a day do we spend watching TV versus studying the Word? How much of our money goes towards buying things "of the world" for ourselves versus spending our money to help ministries or individuals that are making a difference for the Kingdom?
     I join with Daniel Norris in challenging myself [and you] with this question:  How much have we sown into eternity? Could I stand before Jesus right now and be proud of how I've invested my time and treasure on earth? 
     And, if you have been reading my blog for awhile, then you will recognize my advice for 2018:  1) Make your prayer life change the atmosphere and display the power of Heaven, so that both you and others have encounters with God.  2) Be ever-mindful of the opportunities to present Jesus to the world. That is our commission! There are 365 days in a year -- how many days were you able to meet that goal? 3) We are all the Church. We don't need to meet in a building to come together and work with Jesus to take back territory from the Enemy and advance the Kingdom.  When two or more are gathered in the Name of Jesus, that qualifies as the Body of Christ. It's all about exhibiting the Power of the Holy Spirit in how we represent Him. Without the power that He walked in, we cannot fulfill our commission.
     So, let's look forward to 2018 and all that we can accomplish for the Kingdom. Let's get excited for what God is going to do across America, and the part we can play when we cooperate with Him. We were born for such a time as this!

Hosea 10:12   Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that He may come and rain righteousness upon you.

  

Being The Presence Of God

    I want to relate an experience that my husband and I had a couple of days before Christmas.  Although I posted a quick synopsis on Facebook, there is more depth to the story than I was able to express on that platform.  It is a stark reminder to me of how I need to be more focused on being the presence of God to another person.
     As millions of Americans did, Mark and I had to get out in the Christmas rush to buy household essentials, and I needed to return a rug I had bought on an impulse. Big mistake, I thought at the time.  I waited in the Return line at Walmart for over 30 minutes, my frustration beginning to mirror the poor woman trying to figure out how to send money orders around the world. But I kept myself in check, clinging to thoughts of the peace of this season. Finally, I was up next. I finished my return, we scrambled to find the other items we came for, got in another line to purchase them and were happy to be exiting the store.
     As we approached the exit, there was a woman ahead of me, obviously in pain, and moving very slowly. Although we were ready to get out of the rush, I got a clear prompting from the Holy Spirit ... "You are not going to walk past this woman."  Mark and I waited for her to clear the final door, and once in the parking lot, I approached her and asked if she was having trouble walking because of knee pain.  She told us that her right knee was swollen because she'd recently had that hip replaced. She was supposed to have the left hip replaced, too, but Hurricane Harvey caused a delay, and now she is displaced, waiting for her house to be repaired so she can move back in.  I asked her if we could pray for her knee pain, and she was enthusiastic in her approval, "Yes! I would love that!"
     I laid hands on her knee, prayed and asked if the pain was gone.  She said it was better, and we said, "Then, let's go after it again!" We continued to pray, laying hands on her, and releasing the power of the Holy Spirit against the spirit of pain in her knee.  We looked up and tears were running down her face.  Mark asked her why she was crying, and if those were tears of pain or joy.  She said, "Who are you people?"  We said, "Just followers of Jesus, doing what He has asked us to do, and what we are called to do".  She replied, "I have felt so distant from God for too long.  And He has sent me several people this week to remind me that He is still present in my life".  And the tears began flowing even more steadily.
     Mark asked her why she felt God was so far away, and she replied that she was the one who had pulled away.  So we held her hands and prayed that her relationship with Jesus would be restored and she would know how much He loves her and desires to rekindle the fire that once invaded her heart.  We asked her if she had received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, and she said she had; that she had received the gift of tongues, but had lost it. We asked if she wanted it back, and she said, "Oh, God, yes!" So Mark prayed over her, calling for more of the Holy Spirit, and she prayed along with us, but nothing happened.  We reassured her that if she wanted it, all she had to do was keep on asking for it.  It is the Father's desire to restore her to fullness.  She said, "I know this, y'all! I know this!  My daddy was a Pentecostal preacher and I should know this!"
     We asked what happened to her that she had abandoned her faith.  She struggled for an answer, finally saying that things had just happened in her life.  We asked who she needed to forgive, and the answer finally came out ... herself.  So we led her in a prayer asking Jesus to help her forgive herself, as He has forgiven her.  By this time, I became aware of the strange looks we were receiving ... two white people hugging and praying and laying hands on an infirmed black woman ... and none of us cared!  Our Sister in Christ, Tracy, was walking in less pain, smiling through her tears, and declaring to anyone who cared to listen, "This is what we are supposed to be doing! We are all the same! We are all God's children and we are supposed to care about each other!"  We walked her to her car, blessing her and reminding her that Jesus will never leave her.  It was such a blessed reminder that Jesus will give us unending opportunities to represent Him, if we will be present in our spirits.
     I tell you this story, not to point out mine and Mark's actions.  It's not about us!  Remember, I just wanted to get out of that store, and there is another detail to the story... I had noticed Tracy as we rushed around trying to grab our two small items after my long wait in the Return line. But I was so self-absorbed with my own needs and getting out of there as fast as I could, that I had walked past her. Then here she was in front of me as we were exiting the store. I am telling you this because I am ashamed that I wasn't listening to the Holy Spirit when I first saw her, and I am praising the Father for giving me another chance to walk in the identity that I am seeking. I now see that my wait in the Return line was by His design -- otherwise our paths would never have crossed at the end.
     Again, this is not about the work that we did that day, although I know that it ultimately pleased the Father. But, rather, it is a serious inspection of myself as to why the presence of the Holy Spirit is not continuously expressed in my actions, every single minute of every day.  I want to be a person that the Holy Spirit "rests upon", as He did Jesus throughout His time on earth. 

     I know the Spirit lives in me; my body is His Temple, and I am confident that I have been born again. But I have to honestly look at myself and ask, "Can I say that the Holy Spirit rests on me?"  To me it is as Bill Johnson explains, "The Holy Spirit is IN me for my sake, but He rests UPON me for the sake of another".  That means that I should be having an impact upon others because of His presence upon me, and I should be effecting the world around me. Does it happen occasionally? Yes! And I know when it does that it is not me who is affecting a person's spirit, but the Holy Spirit leading me "on paths of righteousness for His Name's sake".
     During this season of my walk with the Lord that's where I'm at -- I want more than anything else to facilitate an encounter with God for another human being; to be the vessel or pipeline, if you will, through which God reaches out and touches a human heart. But I am also very aware that my heart must be always open towards the Holy Spirit in order for that encounter to flow through me. And my experience at Walmart, two days before Christmas, shows me that I still have work to do. I want to be constantly engaged with the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus was.
     John the Baptist, when testifying to the validity of Jesus as the Son of God, says in John 1:32, I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him [Jesus]. It means that for the rest of His earthly life, Jesus continued to position Himself to effect others, as the Holy Spirit directed Him. For me, it means I must direct my heart ever more towards God, so that I will be aware of every possible occasion or circumstance in which someone might encounter God through me.  I do not write this as a matter of self-deprecation, because I know I am a Daughter of the King.  Rather, I write it as a testament to my self-awareness, and to encourage others to walk with me as we seek to become more like Jesus. So, Father, I pray for more encounters like the one you blessed me and Mark with, and I pray that You will come to entrust me with more opportunities as I learn to recognize Your presence and share You and the Holy Spirit with others.  I want to cooperate with You more; fully representing You and what You are doing in the world. I ask all this so that my life may exalt my Lord and Savior. Amen!

Titus 3:5    He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,  

A Prayer For Christmas 2017

 

     With the birth of this holy child, God came to be with the world. And in His Name the world had reason to hope.  So, on the day that Jesus's birth is celebrated, I wish to bless you with this prayer:

Heavenly Father,

     I come before Your throne with a grateful heart for the immense love you have shown for each of us.  I thank You that You chose to humble Yourself and walk among us; coming as an innocent child, but with a Light that shone into the world's darkness.

     This year, Father, I am praying for that Light to shine into the hearts of every person on earth. To those who love You, let the Light reveal the areas of their lives that still keep them in bondage.  Let them develop a hunger for the freedom this baby came to bring them. Let them be dissatisfied with anything that is not pleasing in Your sight, and may they resolve to unlock the shackles of oppression.

     And, Father, may the Body of Christ remove the scales from their eyes, and step into their Divine Commission.  It is my prayer that each of us say, "Yes, Lord!" to living the life of power that we were designed to walk in.  Let the lame and sick be healed; and let the demons quake and flee when we speak because they recognize our authority. And, Father, I ask, in the Name of Jesus, that the Spirit of Religion be removed from the Body. Help us to shake off the attachments of Unbelief and Doubt that accompany this Spirit. And let us realize that each time we hesitate to answer Your call or invitation to partner with You, that we are signaling the Enemy that we have more faith in his ability to deceive us than we do in Your ability to rightly communicate with us and lead us into righteous works for the Kingdom.

     Father, for those who are hurting and poor in spirit this season, let me be the vessel You use to show them You are still with us.  I surrender my own selfish desires, my pride, and my self-worth to become Your conduit from Heaven.  Let them see only You in me.  Cleanse me of anything that interrupts the flow of Your love to those who desperately need to know their identity as a child of God.  And, if they doubt Your existence, give me the words to convince them, or a way to supernaturally touch their life in an exhibition of Your Truth.

     But, Father, for those who stubbornly reject You, let me react by praising You, displaying my belief and trust in the midst of their unbelief.  And I will praise You because I know that, ultimately, it is You who will reveal Yourself and Your Son to the unbeliever, not me.  So, I will continue to pray that their heart of stone will be transformed and they will come to know You, receiving the joy that this relationship brings to the spirit of every man.

     Father, over 2,000 years ago, You set Your plan in motion to reconcile with us, and I believe that You are releasing revival and restoration to Your remnant in these days.  Oh, Father, how I pray that we will receive it and walk in greater power and strength in the coming days and years!  I rejoice at seeing the Body of Christ awaken to its assignment, and I pray that our numbers grow; just as I pray that those healed and set free will be rightly discipled and join Your army on earth.  

     Father, I pray that more of the Holy Spirit and the fullness of You will be transferred to me and my fellow believers.  Just as Your Holy Child grew into His assignment on earth, let us continue to grow and mature and walk in higher power and authority.  I don't want any aspect of my life to be less than pleasing to You!  

     So, on this day that we celebrate Immanuel's birth, I am focusing on the work You have done in my life, and asking for more, Father.  Keep challenging me to accept Your next invitation, always looking expectantly and eagerly for the next encounter with You.  I promise to fight the efforts of the spirits of weariness, complacency, and procrastination that endeavor to keep me from moving forward in my journey with You.  The Christ Child was born to give me unrestricted access to You and the possibility to partner with You in redeeming the world.  I want to take advantage of every opportunity!

    Lastly, Father, I am grateful and thank you for the people you have brought into my life.  For those who mentor and encourage Mark and I in our ministry; for those who are willing to risk ridicule and censoring as we walk together in search of more of our God; for those who have the courage to listen to their hearts rather than the voice of the crowd; and for those whose own transformation and conversions are an amazing inspiration to us. Father, make me ever mindful to speak love and encouragement to them.  But perhaps, most importantly, Father, I thank you for the wonderful and Godly husband you have given me.  You have given him much wisdom and a hunger to live a righteous life.  I stand in awe of his boldness for the Kingdom and look forward to where You will take us in the coming year.  I am so blessed, Father!  And it's all because "Unto us, a child was born". THANK YOU! Amen.

Today I honor the life of one of our "spiritual children", Ben Breedlove, who died on Christmas Day, 2011.  (If you would like to read what I wrote about Ben, please click here). Ben, you filled our lives with such joy, and I thank the Lord for recently showing me a glimpse of you in heaven.  And that last month of your life here on earth showed us all that our hope for eternal life is real, and it is so much better than anything we can experience in the flesh.  You have left us deeply inspired to reach the world for Christ, just as you did. I can't wait to see you again and behold your beautiful smile.  Mark and I still love you and miss you every day!

John 1:14   And the Word (Christ - the Anointed One) became flesh, and lived among us; and we [actually] saw His glory, glory as belongs to the [One and] only begotten Son of the Father, [the Son who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, who is] full of grace and truth (absolutely free of deception).

"Glory To God In The Highest, And On Earth Peace Among Those With Whom God Is Pleased"!

     These words from Luke 2:14 are spoken so often during Christmastime, and usually stated as the more casual "peace on earth, good will towards men".  But do we Christians really know the context in which these words were proclaimed by the heavenly host, God's angelic army?  I would surmise that most people interpret this verse to mean the angels are announcing the peace among men that the birth of the Christ child signifies, resulting in feelings of goodwill among mankind.
     But I believe that is a shallow explanation of the Word, and rather self-centered.  The focus then becomes about us and our feelings; and is even sometimes rendered to mean that this peace is only intended for a select group of people God has chosen -- the Elect if you are Calvin-inclined.
     And although I don't celebrate Christmas from the man-made holiday, materialistic shopping frenzy, and Santa Claus perspective, I do honor the birth of Jesus and the reason I believe the angelic host made their appearance to make this stunning announcement.  (The fact that I also don't believe Jesus was born on December 25th, doesn't enter into the importance of this discussion.  If you are interested in my opinion on this matter, click here).

     So, what is the underlying significance of this dramatic pronouncement?  To whom does this "peace" refer, and what exactly does it cover? Rather than revealing tranquility and harmony between men as a result of the birth of Jesus, the peace that the angels were speaking of was actually announcing the termination of hostilities and ill will between God and man -- the conflict that had existed since Adam and Eve had betrayed God's trust in the Garden.  The angels were announcing that the Christ child was bringing reconciliation between The Most High God and His creation.
     Until God determined that it was time to end the hostilities, all men had been slaves to sin, separated from Him, and doomed for judgment and condemnation.  But now it was time for the words of the Prophets to be displayed... Listen carefully, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will call his name Immanuel (God with us) (Isaiah 7:14).  The birth of this child will, in effect, make a way for peace between God and man. And even though man is unable to be completely sin-free, this child will pay for sin with His sacrificial blood; and all who have faith in Him as their Savior need not fear eternal damnation.  By declaring "Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace among those with whom God is pleased", the angels are rejoicing in excitement and expectancy of what Jesus will eventually accomplish for mankind -- peace between them and God: Therefore there is now no condemnation [no guilty verdict, no punishment] for those who are in Christ Jesus [who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior] (Romans 8:1). 
     But there is more to this story than just the image of the Christ Child in the manger.  There is a depth to it that we must not miss.  It is imperative that we see the fullness of the Godhead in the particulars of this event.  First, we cannot ignore the fact that the Father conceived this plan to send His only begotten Son as payment for the sins of those whom He dearly loved; that as the Son of God, this child was the sole representative of the Being and Character of the One who sent Him. 
    Secondly, Jesus was the "Christ child", known as Jesus Christ, or Jesus, "the Anointed One".  The word anointed means "consecrated" or "set apart" to a Divine purpose.  In the religious ceremonies of the Jews, God instructed the "anointing" or "smearing of oil" to confer a divine or holy office upon a priest.  Jesus was literally "smeared" with the power of Heaven from the moment of His supernatural conception. Born as fully human, He was able to accomplish God's plan of reinstated peace with man, through the power of Heaven initiated by the Holy Spirit.
     And from the moment of that Divine conception, the Holy Spirit and the power of Heaven played a central role in Jesus's ministry. According to Steven Studebaker, author and Associate Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology, "The Spirit is central to both who Christ is and what he did."  The Holy Spirit not only enabled the incarnation of the Son of God, but He provided the power for Jesus to do the signs and wonders from the Father, virtually invading earth with the saving power of Heaven.  
     Furthermore, if we, today, correctly view the birth of the Christ Child, we should recognize that this same Holy Spirit is central to our Christian identity and what we are able to do for the Father's Kingdom here on earth.  If we are to be "those with whom He is well pleased", then we must mirror Jesus, whom God declared He was pleased with at His baptism.  And that means being willing to activate the power that comes to us through the Holy Spirit.  In that sense, we are no different than Jesus.  
     He was given a mission which He accomplished. From the moment He was born, until His sacrificial death and resurrection, Jesus was born of the Spirit and filled with the Spirit to accomplish His Father's will.  It is a given that we have not been divinely conceived.  Only Jesus can lay claim to that distinction.  And while we may not be continuously filled with the Spirit as He was, we have access to that same Spirit and the ability to achieve that goal ... if we desire it, and ask for it.  That is God's intention for us and what would please Him!

     So, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus this year, let's try to look at this event as more than a nativity scene.  Let us recognize that He came to us on a mission, empowered by the Holy Spirit to do the Father's will in bringing peace -- the reconciliation between man and God.  And let us recognize that this same mission is still the will of the Father, and it is the mission we have inherited now that the Holy Spirit not only lives in us, but empowers us to do what God called Jesus to do.  Contemplate the holiness of the Christ Child; His assignment; and the power given to Him to carry it out... all of which pleases the Father.  And let us not be satisfied in merely meeting our own standard of pleasing Him, but keep asking Him for more power to accomplish the mission He has given us.  Be resolved to look beyond the sentimentality of this holiday, and walk in the truth of the Word ... For we are not like many, [acting like merchants] peddling God’s word [shortchanging and adulterating God’s message]; but from pure [uncompromised] motives, as [commissioned and sent] from God, we speak [His message] in Christ in the sight of God.  That will please Him!

    

2 Corinthians 2:15    "For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing..."
     
    

The Holy Spirit: We Can Have More!

     As you have likely noticed over the last year, a lot of my posts have centered around the Holy Spirit.  And I believe this is because there is so much more of Him that God wants us to experience.  And to that point, I wrote a blog post in August, 2015, sharing my opinion on the difference between water baptism and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.  What a difference two years can make!  Although I do not necessarily disagree with what I wrote back then, I have now experienced a fuller encounter with the Spirit and I must amend my opinion. As I continue growing and maturing in my faith, God reveals more, and I'd like to share that knowledge with you.

     I would venture that a majority of Christians would agree with me when I say that we receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior.  It is accepted that water baptism is evidence of our repentance, and we are walking in a new relationship with God, the Father, and Jesus, our Lord.  In fact, according to Strong's Concordance, water baptism by a Christian believer is "witnessing to their identification with Jesus in death, burial, and resurrection"; we die with Christ, and rise with Him. When we get baptized in the Name of Jesus, we become closely bound and associated with the One into whose Name we are baptized.
     Yet I am convinced that we do not need to be water baptized to be saved.  Yes, it is a public act that proclaims to both the physical world and the spiritual world that we have faith in Jesus and His teachings -- that we are learning to be like Jesus by following His example of submission, service, and sacrifice in response to faith in Him.
    But, now, let me present a different look at salvation without water baptism.  There is the account in John 13:8-11 of a conversation between Jesus and Peter. Jesus is about to wash Peter's feet, but Peter protests.  Jesus tells him, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me".  Peter then tells Jesus that he wants to be washed completely -- "not only my feet, but my hands and my head", which indicates full body immersion.  Jesus responds, "Anyone who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, and is completely clean. And you [My Disciples] are clean...". 
     What does Jesus mean by that word "bathed" and how does it render the Disciples clean? This becomes clear in John 15:3, when Jesus tells His Disciples, "You are already clean because of the word which I have given you [the teachings which I have discussed with you]". They were bathed in the Word and therefore saved by Faith in Him [and His teachings]. Do not get me wrong!  There is nothing wrong with being baptized in water!  It honors your commitment to your faith as a follower of Christ. But water baptism itself, does not save.  "For it is by grace we have been saved by faith" (Ephesians 2:8).
     I'd like to share the writing of the late Jay Guin on his interpretation of what Jesus was expressing to Peter in this passage:  "You are utterly clean, by grace, because you’ve accepted My teaching and so have faith. But neither My teaching nor your cleansing will be complete until you learn one last lesson, the lesson of humble service. I’ll teach this lesson by washing your feet, but I’ll complete the lesson by dying for you. But I know already that you’ll learn that lesson well".

     Now, let me continue with my thoughts on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13 tells us that "having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise". This indwelling of the Spirit allows Jesus to come into our hearts and reside there with us; in effect, giving us a new heart and a new [indwelling] spirit, just as God proclaimed in Ezekiel 36:26.  We are a new creation, and we no longer have to be subject to our sinful flesh and human nature.
     But in order to overcome the temptations of this world and the fiery darts of the devil, we must receive the power of the Holy Spirit -- and actually we should be asking for that power, which comes to us by another form of baptism ... the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  Luke 11:13 tells us, "If you, then, being evil [that is, sinful by nature], know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask and continue to ask Him!”  So, the obvious question is if this is the indwelling of the Spirit that accompanies our declaration of faith in Jesus, then why is Jesus telling us that the Father will give us the Holy Spirit if we ask Him? This must be a greater manifestation of the Spirit.
     And, in truth, Jesus tells His Disciples right before His ascension, "But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.” It is clear to me that what happens to them in the upper room at Pentecost is the bestowal of that power and ability -- an empowerment for service to the Kingdom of God and to represent Him and do His works.
     One of the best illustrations of the difference between the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit was presented in an article on the Christian Broadcasting Network website ... "if we drank water from a glass, then the water would be inside us. However, if we went to the beach and stepped into the ocean, then we would be in the water. We receive, as it were, a drink of the Holy Spirit when we are saved, but when we are baptized in the Spirit, it is as if that initial drink becomes an ocean that completely surrounds us". The indwelling of the Spirit gives us the opportunity to live our lives [set apart to God and in righteousness], as Jesus did.  The Baptism of the Spirit gives us the ability and the power to do the ministry of Jesus, including miracles and healings. 
     Think about it... the Great Commission, as stated in Mark 16, says, Go into all the world and preach the gospel [of the Kingdom] to all creation.  He who has believed [in Me] and has been baptized will be saved [from the penalty of God’s wrath and judgment]; but he who has not believed will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak in new tongues  they will pick up serpents, and if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well.” It is my opinion that the baptism of these believers is the baptism by fire of the Holy Spirit -- not water baptism! Jesus knew they would not be able to do these signs (miracles) under their own power. So that's why He told them to go to Jerusalem and wait for the promised [supernatural] power of the Holy Spirit, and they would be able to accomplish their commission.  The "promise" of the Holy Spirit is not merely His presence in us, but it is a promise of the power that accompanies Him!
      Is it possible to spread the Gospel of the Kingdom and make Disciples without the power that comes from the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?  I believe it is, but it amounts to trying to train people to undertake a supernatural assignment with their limited human power.  The fruit that is borne will be less profitable for the Kingdom of God.

     Just like the baptism in the Name of Jesus, we become eternally associated with and bound to the Holy Spirit when we are baptized with His fire. When we are baptized by immersion in water, we do so in repentance of our sins, recognition of our new identity in Christ, and a desire to live in obedience to God.  But it takes receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit to enable us to walk in a higher calling to God.  And the Disciples are our example.  They were bathed in the Word and had faith in Jesus, which caused Jesus to pronounce them "clean".  And there are numerous references to "cleansing" being related to salvation, such as 1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 
     And, yes, it is a fact that the Disciples were able to heal the sick and cast out demons before they received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, but it wasn't until the fire of the Holy Spirit descended upon them at Pentecost that they received a fuller measure of supernatural, heavenly power to carry out the Commission Jesus had given them. 
     I know that many Christians will not see eye-to-eye with me on this matter.  It is a difficult concept to understand, and sadly, I do not believe the modern Church has attempted to seek a deeper knowledge. They do not understand that the Bible clearly states that Paul taught that one received this greater power by the laying on of hands... Acts 8:17, Then Peter and John laid their hands on them [one by one], and they received the Holy Spirit; 2 Timothy 1:6, That is why I remind you to fan into flame the gracious gift of God, [that inner fire—the special endowment] which is in you through the laying on of my hands...;  Acts 19:1-6, It happened that while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul went through the upper [inland] districts and came down to Ephesus, and found some disciples. He asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed [in Jesus as the Christ]?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”  And he asked, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” Paul said, “John performed a baptism of repentance, continually telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, [to confidently accept and joyfully believe] in Jesus [the Messiah and Savior].” After hearing this, they were baptized [again, this time] in the name of the Lord Jesus.  And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in [unknown] tongues (languages) and prophesying. This speaks of the water baptism in response to faith in Jesus, [rather than the baptism of repentance that signified John the Baptist's baptism], followed by the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, received by the laying on of hands; and the gift of tongues clearly being a sign of this baptism into power and ability.
     There is so much more that I could discuss -- that all the gifts of the Holy Spirit are available to each one of us because if the Holy Spirit indwells us, He brings His gifts with Him, and, as 1 Corinthians 12:11 tells us, All these [gifts] are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as He wills. ALL the gifts are available to ALL believers! The Bible tells us that not all are apostles, nor prophets, nor teachers; and not all perform miracles, or healing, or speak in tongues.  But does this mean we are not able to do these things?  The Bible also tells us to "earnestly desire the higher gifts". Seek after them; ask for them! Luke 11:13, If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall [your] heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him? 
     The Baptism of the Holy Spirit requires a deep study of the Word, and is not without controversy and disagreement amongst the Body of Christ.  But it is an essential part of the Bible and worthy of our time and consideration. I hope you will earnestly seek God's heart on this matter.


Acts 8:15-16   They [Peter and John] came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit for He had not yet fallen on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus [as His possession].
     
    

The Spirit Is Moving!

     While a majority of Christians in the U.S. are embracing their Christmas traditions, I am sensitive to a greater sentiment for rejoicing.  I am sensing a connection among Spirit-led Christians, while at the same time, an expansion of where the Spirit is leading us.  I know that may not make much sense, so let me see if I can expound on this premise...
     Until very recently, I have felt as if the Lord had called Mark and I to a solitary place; a calling that seemed to almost isolate us from the Body of Christ.  I knew He was doing a work in us and preparing us for a unique and, perhaps, even greater service than what we experienced within the corporate body of the Church.  But now I'm discovering [and recognizing] those that have experienced the same "calling out", so to speak, and have been on their own individual paths of serving the Kingdom.
     And now, the Lord is connecting us, each with his or her individual and particular assignment.  And when we come together, it is expanding our ability to reach the Lost and the Saved! Because, as I have said before, [quoting Dr. Charles Kraft], our churches are full of wonderfully saved Christians who are still in bondage. And [quoting the Lord], the harvest of the Lost is great and the Laborers are few.

     God needs us all! That's why He has given some the assignment of healing the brokenhearted and setting the captives free; and others to take back the Land and declare that it belongs to the Lord; and still others to train up disciples of Christ to hit the streets, lay hands on people to physically heal, and share the Gospel of the Kingdom.  And now He is connecting us so that we are actually beginning to work together as a real body works ... each being the hand or the foot or the arms and legs -- but all working under the direction of the Head.  The Spirit is moving!
     I don't claim to know the mind of God, but I am left wondering if it isn't like how God orchestrated Joshua and the Israelite's conquering of the Promised Land ... learning our individual responsibility and then how to relate collectively as we come together in one Body; learning from each battle as we step into the next.  If we had each tried to walk out our new assignments [when we first received them] as part of a corporate body, there would probably have been much in-fighting for position, a lot of confusion, and much discouragement -- which would have delighted Satan.
     But since God has taught each of us our roles, and refined us through our victories and defeats, we are now ready to come together without any jealousy, suspicion, or mistrust.  We see the bigger picture and it is not about us, but for God's glory and establishing His Kingdom on earth!
     I actually experienced this new Army of the Lord last night.  I attended what was called a "worship and healing service" in Corpus Christi, Texas -- which coincidentally, means Body of Christ in Spanish.  At this service, I witnessed people coming from the community to be ministered to for both physical and spiritual healing.  There was the young Hispanic man, with obvious signs on his body of gang affiliations, who was prophesied over.  I stood waiting to minister to his female friend, and watched as his countenance changed from scared [and skeptical] to a complete surrender to the Lord. As the minister declared that God had a word for him; that he would become a leader among his community and walk in authority, leading others to Christ, I saw a man broken in his flesh, fighting back tears, until he gave in and allowed the love of Jesus to flood his heart. There was much more spoken over him than I have recorded here; words from the Throne of God, specifically for this special young man who needed to know that God loves him. I watched as, tears finally flowed, and he allowed himself to be hugged and received by the men who were laying hands on him.  You could tell that being hugged was a foreign action for him, but I saw his spirit respond to the love of Jesus through those men, and my spirit just kept saying, "Receive it, Brother, receive it!"
      And then several of us women ministered to his friend, who was obviously suffering emotional pain from bad decisions in her life.  The minister declared her a thing of beauty to the Lord and spoke of a bright future that God had planned for her, recognizing her gifts and talents that she would use for the Lord.  He then asked us women if we were seeing anything in the spirit.  My friend, Wanda, spoke of seeing a mantle of grace flowing over her, and covering her; the Lord delighting in her beauty. I spoke of seeing that the Enemy had placed a dirty veil before her eyes and that's how she saw herself. I prophesied that God wanted to remove that veil so she could see herself as He sees her, beautiful and pure; and that she would be able to do the same for other young women who lived their lives in shame and guilt.  Then the minister asked my other friend, Debbie, to prophetically act out removing that veil from her.  It was so powerful! You could see her face and her eyes brighten, the darkness being removed by words of knowledge and prophecy.
     I witnessed physical healing -- including my own! And I was able to minister to another woman, leading her through forgiving her father for molesting her as a child, and releasing him to God in the Name of Jesus. She needed to know that she is a daughter of the King, and that is her new identity. Seeing her tears, I assured her that she was much loved -- by her Father in Heaven, and by each one of us. In short, I believe I was seeing what the Early Church must have looked like.  We were people of God, gathered together; each obedient to our different calling and assignment, but partnering with Jesus to do the works that He did while on earth.  And perhaps even more importantly, I saw Ephesians 4:15-16 in person: Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.  That is what training and equipping the saints is to look like!
     But we didn't look like what "church" normally does today.  We didn't all sit for 30 minutes while someone preached to us.  Instead, we spontaneously responded to the need of those who were in attendance.  Several groups sprang up around the room, as the Holy Spirit called us to minister to a hurting soul. We came together with strangers to release the power of the Spirit to those in need of Jesus's forgiveness, mercy, and love. We were no longer solitary laborers, but were working in unison to advance the Kingdom of God and take back territory from Satan. It was palpable and the presence of God was unmistakable.
     It excites me to declare that there is a definite movement of the Holy Spirit across this land, and I am seeing it in ways unlike anything I've seen before.  Connections are being made from great distances apart, and communities are being supernaturally effected by this cooperation and spirit of unity among this growing remnant within the Body of Christ.  It is a beautiful and compelling and powerful thing to behold! And it is happening near you -- I just know it!  Ask the Lord to show you where you can connect into His power here on earth ... and then let nothing stop you from becoming a laborer for the Harvest.  He will equip you for the work and the battles -- and it will taste and smell and look and sound and feel like sweet victory!

Luke 16:16   The Law and the Prophets were until John [the Baptist]. Since that time the Good News of the Kingdom of God is being proclaimed, and everyone with the utmost earnestness and effort is pressing into it for his share in it. (The Expanded Greek Translation)
    

Nuggets of Revelation From The Book Of Acts

     After watching the movie, The Last Reformation, God has put it on my heart to do a serious study of the Church in the Book of Acts. It is really the only model we have been given from the Word of God about a Holy Spirit-led Church. And by what other means would we want to be led?
     Both History and Scripture have shown us that when we are led by men and their traditions that we get an incomplete picture of how God wants us to worship and respond to Him.  The Bible plainly tells us that the Pharisees and the Sadducees got it wrong.  And Paul was constantly warning the small home churches to be careful of false teaching and the evil spirits that were behind the men who would try to deceive them.  For centuries, his warning that there would be those who would "fall away from the faith" has haunted the Church.
     A careful study of history shows us that the Emperor Constantine set the stage for a wrong turn in the Church that we still haven't recovered from.  Further separation emerged within the Church with the advent of different denominations -- all of whom got some aspect of Jesus's Great Commission right.  But no Church has walked in the fullness of Jesus's teaching as much as the First Century Church that we see in the Book of Acts.
      That has made it worthwhile for me to dive deep and try to see how I can replicate that model.  And it doesn't take a whole congregation to be defined as the Church.  Wherever two or more are gathered, Jesus is there, and able to lead us into His Righteousness and Truth, which should be the goal of all Christians -- whether it be individually or corporately.

      So, let me share just a few of the precious insights I have received while immersing myself in the first few chapters of this remarkable Book of the Bible.  Let me first say, that these nuggets of revelation are by no means all that is available, nor are they likely to be held by a majority of fellow Christians. But they are the ones that struck me as the most distinct from what I was taught [or not taught] in my church background.
     It begins in the first few verses of Chapter One in Acts.  I was aware, [as verse Three tells us] that Jesus appeared for 40 days after His resurrection, teaching them the things they would need to know to carry on for Him.  I had always assumed that He spent those 40 days teaching and showing them where the Prophets had proclaimed Him, and what God desired from His people.  But Scripture very clearly says He spent those 40 days "speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God"... not the rituals or traditions; not religion; and not just salvation.
     Once again, here is a reminder that it is Jesus's priority that the Disciples [and us] understand the concept of the Kingdom of God invading earth. The Kingdom of God is the domain or territory where God is King and where He rules.  Right now, the perfect picture of that is Heaven.  But when God sent His beloved Son to earth, Heaven came with Him.  And the Parables He taught in Matthew 13 stressed how the Kingdom of Heaven operates, and were lessons on how it is to be established on earth.  In short, the Kingdom of God [both in Heaven and on Earth] has been Jesus's focus -- from the foundations of the world, to the present Age, and will be into the future.
     Second, in verse Five of this first chapter, Jesus very clearly states that while John baptized with water, His baptism is by the Holy Spirit.  John, himself, confirmed this when he said in Matthew 3:11: I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. I will admit that for years I labored about this distinction, because the churches I attended only talked about being baptized in water when you were ready to confess Jesus as your Savior -- not to mention the options of being sprinkled or immersed.  And they never talked about being baptized with fire and the Holy Spirit.
     First of all, water baptism does not save anyone.  It is just as John said ... it is for repentance; for recognition that you need a Savior, but the act itself does not provide salvation.  And that brings me to the next points that enlightened my understanding of God's Word.  In Chapter Two, Scripture says, And Peter said to them, “Repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways, accept and follow Jesus as the Messiah] and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ because of the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit... Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 
     Here's what I see in these verses ... The Church has always proposed [and I am including myself in this] that the baptism Peter is referring to here is [only] the water baptism of John. But I am beginning to see that Peter is talking about Jesus's baptism [that which John referred to] where we will receive the Holy Spirit!  It cannot be said that this could only happen while Jesus was on earth, because Scripture does not record one time that Jesus baptized.  And this is not to say that water baptism is obsolete and/or has no purpose -- it is a worthy act of repentance; of confessing and dying as sinful flesh, and rising into a new identification as a Spirit-filled co-heir of the Kingdom with Christ.  And, of course, Jesus, Himself, was baptized in water, but that was because water baptism was still part of the Old Covenant as a work of repentance. 
     Secondly, everyone got baptized in the Holy Spirit the same day they repented.  Why would anyone want to wait to receive the power of Heaven?!? And sometimes [as in the case of Cornelius] they received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and then they were water baptized. It is my humble opinion that both baptisms are beneficial and show the connection between repentance and receiving the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, through tradition and religion the modern Church only sees the picture of water baptism.
     I received another little nugget in Chapter Three of Acts.  It came in verse 16:  And His name—by faith in His name—has made this man strong whom you see and know. This is in reference to the lame man that Peter and John healed at the Beautiful Gate.  All those who witnessed the miracle of healing wondered at the power that Peter and John had to heal the man.  But Peter admonishes them.  It is not their power, and [here is the distinction I want to make] -- it is not even by the Name of Jesus, BUT faith in the Name that healed the lame man.  
    Peter is making sure they understand that simply saying the Name of Jesus is not a magic talisman that can be used to get what you desire.  It is more than that.  It is the trust and confidence in Who Jesus is, His position in Heaven, and the power and authority that He has transferred to us that allows for His work to continue here through us.  And I believe that this is an important recognition that the Modern Church needs to make as we come into our newfound knowledge that there is power in the Name.  It is important to know that the power comes from our faith -- our complete trust in the One whose Name we exalt.
     The last little nugget that I want to expound upon comes in verse 20, Chapter Four:  For we, on our part, cannot stop telling [people] about what we have seen and heard.  This is walking in the footsteps of Jesus.  Scripture tells us that Jesus only spoke of what He saw the Father doing or saying.  Jesus was a witness of the Father's actions, and Peter and the Disciples were witnesses of all that Jesus said and did.  Furthermore, they sought to hear and see [in the Spirit] from the Father, just as He did.
     There is validity in one's teaching and words when you can give witness to what you've seen and heard.  In these days, we should be seeking to hear from the Father, and seeing in our spirits what His instructions are to advance His Kingdom here on earth.  If Jesus was the model for the Early Church, then He and that First Century Church should be our model.  Sadly, we don't resemble them much.  That's why I urge you to study and to take to heart all that the Book of Acts reveals about what the Church should look like.  Then like those early Disciples, be a true Disciple of Jesus and just go do it!

John 15:8    "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples".

 

The Holy Standard of God

     There are times, as I am immersed in my Bible, when I get those "Aha" moments and I feel like God has opened a direct line of communication from His throne to my brain.  Other times it is my heart or my spirit that nudges me to take another moment to meditate on that verse because I just know there is something more to glean. 
     If you've been reading this blog for awhile you know that I love the history of God's relationship with His chosen people in the Old Testament. There is much there for us to learn because God never changes.  He is a God of order, and I believe He has set a standard by which He operates, and He does not waver from it.  In essence, that means He does not break His own rules, and is faithful to what I call His "Spiritual Mechanics".  All this is to set up a nugget of revelation that my husband pointed out in Exodus, Chapter 33.  I want to preface this blog post, by saying this is my opinion, and there are many facets to the following discussion, and I cannot address them all in this one post.  I know there will be differing opinions, and that's okay.  Our God is pleased when we come seeking knowledge of Him, and He is not condemning when we are seeking Him from a faithful heart.
     Here is the setup:  In Chapter 32, the Israelites had broken a couple of those rules, which we call commandments, that God had established when He brought them out of the Land of Egypt ... You shall have no other Gods before Me, and You shall not make for yourself any idol. But while Moses was visiting with God on Mount Sinai, the Israelites became concerned because he was delayed.  Worrying that something might have happened to him, they pleaded with Aaron to help them make a Golden Calf; an idol that could go before them and lead them.
     We know the consequences of that act ... YHWH was angered and determined to destroy the Israelites (Exodus 32:10) until Moses interceded upon their behalf.  Yet, three thousand were slain that day because they refused to consecrate themselves to the Lord (Exodus 32:26-28).  
     Now, here is the nugget that was revealed to me:  In Chapter 33, YHWH tells Moses that He is going to send an angel before the Israelites as they enter the Promised Land and drive out the idolators who inhabit the Land [the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizites, Hivites, and Jebusites] because if He went, Himself, He would destroy them.
     Once again, Moses intercedes for the children of Israel and reminds God that He has told him he [Moses] has found grace in His sight.  Moses asks to know who will accompany them, and YHWH says , "My presence shall go with thee".  So what does this tell us?  Several things.  First, God hates idolatry and sin so much He is willing to blot us out of the Book of Life (the list of those who will inherit eternal life and live with God in heaven forever).

     SIDE NOTE: Now, I know that there will be those who say Jesus fixed that problem by taking on the punishment that is due us.  And you can find commentaries that support the belief that Ephesians 1:3-6 says that God chose us from the foundation of the world and predestined for us to be adopted as children of God, so if your name is written in the Book of Life, it cannot be blotted out. My personal opinion is that these verses show the heart of God and that is was His plan and purpose that all would remain in Christ according to the grace He has given us in Christ.
     BUT THEN, there is the verse in Revelation 3:5, when Jesus is addressing the Churches ... He who overcomes [the world through believing that Jesus is the Son of God] will accordingly be dressed in white clothing; and I will never blot out his name from the Book of Life, and I will confess and openly acknowledge his name before My Father and before His angels [saying that he is one of Mine].  Various translations record those first few words as, "He who conquers", or "The victor".  Either way -- whether you are an overcomer, a conqueror, or a victor, there is a suggestion that there is a battle; a fight that might possibly result in your name being blotted out.  The very concepts of overcoming, conquering and winning alludes to repentance of sin in one's life. And repentance is an ongoing activity in the life of a Believer.  If it is a foregone conclusion that God chose us and predestined us [with no decision on our part for failure], then why would Jesus even need to present the option of blotting out a name? Could unrepented sin be the causal factor?
     Okay, back to my original premise ... God tells Moses that He is sending "an angel" before the nation of Israel to drive out the native inhabitants [who are idolators] because ,if He went Himself, He was so angry, He would destroy His chosen people.  Later, he relents when Moses asks for mercy and God says, "My presence shall go with thee".  I believe we should understand this "angel" and "presence" to be Jesus.  
     For me, this is a picture of the Nature of God.  He maintained His Holy standard of no other gods, and no idols, by refusing to accompany them Himself -- while exhibiting His attribute of Mercy by sending His presence with them.  It is also a picture of His Grace.  He never relents on his hatred of idolatry and sin, yet provides a way for us to remain in His presence, even when we sin [repentance].  In this Old Testament picture, it is through the angel who goes before them, which is a picture of Christ in the New Testament.
    From this nugget of revelation I received this week, I can know that I serve a God who never changes.  There is no God of the Old Testament who is different from the God of the New Testament -- it is the same God ... the One who is at the same time Holy [maintaining His righteous standards], yet also Merciful and full of Grace.  He is a God who commands us to be holy and righteous as He is, for we are made in His image. And we need to understand that there will come a day when we will stand before our Savior, and in order to not be blotted out of the Book of Life we must overcome this world.  We know that some of will succeed, some will fail, and some will fall away.  It is not God's will that He lose anyone, just as it was not His desire that the Israelites accept Him as their God and then fall victim to idolatry and sin.  Are we any different?  There is a very important lesson to learn from this Biblical example. The same concept of our God is presented in Exodus as is represented in Revelation. Do not let us think that we are beyond the temptations of those ancient Chosen People. 
     We are to walk out our salvation with fear and trembling ... lest we stumble and fall away. If we see only God's attributes of Mercy and Grace, and ignore His Righteousness and Holiness [which includes His Judgment], we run the risk of becoming complacent and spewed out of His mouth.  We serve a Mighty God, who reveals Himself day by day to those who seek Him!

1 Corinthians 10:12   "Therefore let the one who thinks he stands firm [immune to temptation, being overconfident and self-righteous], take care that he does not fall [into sin and condemnation]".