Power

What the church needs today is power.  And I don’t mean a powerful speaker or a powerful preacher or a powerful program or teacher.  These can be all learned things and people’s personalities.  I am talking about the power that will change people’s lives.  

We learn about what the church should be like and what the church should be doing but what we need to hear about is how it will be accomplished. We can be taught about how the church should function and what it should accomplish and we have heard about it many times, and that is important, but I think we need to start from the beginning.  

What is the main ingredient that will empower the church to accomplish all these things?  We need the Lord to be exalted and the power of the Holy Spirit.  The Word says in Psalms 127:1, “Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain.”  I know this is talking about marriages and family life, but it also includes everything else that we try to accomplish in the spiritual realm, which includes the church.  Anything we endeavor to do in life will never fully meet its highest potential without the Lord and the power of the Holy Spirit.

How did the church get its start?  How did the church survive all these years and how did it accomplish all that has been accomplished?  It was because of the out powering and power of the Holy Spirit on those that who were baptized with the Holy Spirit.  The baptism of the Holy Spirit made all the difference.  Jesus emphasized how important it was for the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father, read it for yourself in Acts 1:4-5, “Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, ‘Which,’ He said, ‘you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’”  It also says this in verse 8, “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” 

Why was this so important to them?   They could never accomplish what they were called to do without being baptized and empowered by the Holy Ghost!  If this wasn’t very crucial to their ministry then why would Jesus command these men to tarry and wait for this promise?  Jesus knew them well and knew how fleshly they acted at times, lacking boldness and how fearful they were.  Jesus knew that, not only these disciples would need power but, all of us who would believe their message, all down through the years, would need this empowering of the Holy Spirit in each of our lives as well.  

The baptism of the Holy Spirit used to be taught quite often but as of late it isn’t talked about much.  My feelings are that if the people in Jesus’ day needed to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, when the church started, so does everyone that claims to be a born-again believer today need to be baptized in the Holy Spirit.  Like Pastor Piedmonte used to preach, you can still go to heaven without being baptized in the Holy Spirit, but why not go first class.  I think that every preacher should emphasize and preach about the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  If the early church needed it, so do we.

In Acts 19:1-7 it says this, “It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples.  He said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’  And they said to him, ‘No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.’  And he said, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’   And they said, ‘Into John’s baptism.’  Paul said, ‘John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.’  When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.  There were in all about twelve men.”                    

They must have been believers and what about the speaking in tongues, many people claim to be born-again but have never spoken in other tongues.  The Word says they spoke with tongues and prophesied.  Also in Acts 10:43-48 it says this, “Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.  While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message.  All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.  For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God.  Then Peter answered, ‘Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?’  And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.”

The church wasn’t perfect after this happened but it was very much needed and it is needed just as much today and it should be taught.  Something to think about, God bless and have a great day!!

Unity In The Church

Unity means the state or quality of being one, singleness, the state or quality of being in accord, or harmony.  Born-again believers are the church.  Not everyone in the building, we call the church, are true believers or are part of the church.  

One of the responsibilities of the church is to witness to the non-believer outside the church building, but what about the non-believers in the church?  If the true believers are not unified in love and grace toward one another, will it not hinder the non-believer from becoming a Christian?  And what about the clicks in the church that seem to only be concerned with those in their group, will that not also hinder the non-believer from making a decision about following the Lord?  

Jesus said this in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”  This was spoken at the time when Jesus was talking to His disciples and Peter about him denying Jesus.  Jesus knew His time on earth was coming to a close and He knew what would be needed most among his body.  Love and unity were very important to Jesus and very important to His followers.  

Unity and love in the church were very important to Paul also, He said this in Ephesians 4:1-4, “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling.”  I can’t stress this enough, unity and love are so important in the body of Christ.

The body of Christ is made up of so many different people with so many gifts and talents and we need to appreciate one another.  Although it is hard to get along with such diversity in so many people we need to work at it, seeking unity and love, not division or separation in the body because the body of Christ is that important.  Try to think about how different people compliment the body instead of thinking negatively, work at being a positive role model encouraging and building up the body instead of thinking of things that will tear it down.  

I need not only to write this to help others, but I need to learn this also because to my shame I have been guilty of separation instead of unity at times and I am sorry, sometimes I feel like such a hypocrite.  I am sure glad for the Holy Spirit’s conviction when I am doing these blogs so that I can repent when I need to, praise the Lord!!  

I have just been reminded of the words of a song that Jimmy Hendrix sang, in the song he sang these words, “excuse me while I kiss the sky.”   He would have been much better off if he sang, “excuse me while I weep and repent,” like I am doing right now.  One of the differences between me and Jimmy is when he was high and sang it was because of drugs, when I get high it is because of the Holy Spirit, praise the Lord!!  I liked Jimmy, I think he would have made a great Christian, he had some great gifts, but as far as I know he never was.  I didn’t mean to distract anyone but I try to be transparent and write what I feel the Lord wants me to put on here.

Paul also said this in verses 11-16, “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.  As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”

The body of Christ, if it is going to be fully complete, needs to grow in unity, encouraging and lifting up one another and holding each other accountable in love.  Forgiving whatever grievances we have with each other and uniting in one purpose to honor the Lord.  

Question:  have you been guilty of dividing the church?  No matter what reasons you think you might have, you need to repent and confess it to the Lord.  He is waiting for you to admit your guilt and repent, like I did, not long ago.  Then pray and ask the Lord to help you never to do that again. Don’t hold on to the guilt any longer; give it to the Lord today.  God bless and have a great day.        

Now Is The Time To Be Ready

The Lord’s chosen people are not of the dark in spiritual matters, for the Lord Himself has taken them from darkness into His beautiful light, praise the Lord!!  Before we were converted we were like the blind leading the blind, stumbling about trying to get through life the best way we could being the miserable and wretched people we were.  After our conversion we were washed and cleansed of our sin through the precious blood of Jesus, given the mind of Christ and covered with His righteousness and also given the Holy Spirit, plus a measure of faith and power to live a godly life.  

We have also been privileged with having the Word of God.  We are blessed beyond measure, praise the Lord.  Paul spoke to the Thessalonian church about them being light and about the day of the Lord’s return.  Paul said this in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3, “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.  For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.  For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman.  And they shall not escape.”

There have been many people over the years that have tried to predict the day the Lord is coming back; but no one knows, not even Jesus Himself. What is very important is that you are ready when Jesus comes.  Don’t be misled by people that claim they know the day because they don’t.  The day of the Lord will bring blessings, judgment and punishment.  But for those that are ready, that have been converted, not wrath, but blessing.  Paul said this in 1 Thessalonians 5:9, “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Believers that are ready will not come under condemnation, at that time their salvation will be truly realized, not something they are just waiting for.  Paul was encouraging these believers to fear not but to make it a priority to be ready and waiting so that the day would not take them unaware or by surprise.  

He spoke these words in 1 Thessalonians 5:4-8, “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.  You are all sons of light and sons of the day.  We are not of the night, nor of darkness.  Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.  For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.  But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.”

These believers were to put on the armor of God which it speaks more about in Ephesians 6:13-17, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”  These believers were to walk in faith and love and not give up hope.  

Then Paul went on to say this in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”  Paul was speaking to this church instructing and encouraging them to stay alert and be ready and I believe we need to take these things to heart also.  We know that the Lord’s return is in God’s plan and no one knows when it will take place but Him.  Just like the believers in Paul’s day we are not unaware of the coming of the Lord so let’s spur one another on as we see the day approaching.  In Hebrews 10:25 it says this, “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."  Let’s put these things into practice.  God bless and have a great day!!          

Draw Close To God

Every born-again believer must have a desire to draw closer to God.  If you are truly a believer through rebirth then the Spirit of God dwells within you and points you to the Lord.  How do you draw close to God?  James helps us in this area.  

In chapter 4 of the book of James, James starts out with prayer and their attitude when they prayed.  He talked about people that lust after things; lust is a strong desire without restraint.  When people get to the point of lusting it will cause all kinds of problems, even murder.  James also tells them this, “Yet ye have not, because ye ask not.”  

Before I go too far let me tell you who he is addressing this letter to. James is writing to the first century Jewish Christians that lived on the outskirts of Palestine and to believers all over the world.  This book was written to teach about unethical practices, to bring these Christians back to right behavior.  Their prayers were nothing but a bunch of wants for themselves, very self-centered.  Prayer needs to go beyond that; they need to be sincere, unselfish with a desire to see God’s will be done.  The believer’s purpose should be to further God’s kingdom in some way, not just to spend money and time on their own pleasures.

James goes on to warn them against friendship with the world.  In verse 4 James says, “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God?  Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”  Pleasure with the world is seeking pleasure at someone else’s expense.  Pleasure that keeps us from seeking God or draws us away from God is sinful.  God doesn’t want us to be unhappy, no, there is joy in serving the Lord but worldly pleasure can hinder and even harm our relationship with God, in fact many are addicted to some of the things that are called worldly pleasures.

James gives us the answer to this self-destructing attitude of self-centeredness, which is pride, in James 4:5-10, “Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose:  ‘He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us?’   But He gives a greater grace.  Therefore it says, ‘GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.’  Submit therefore to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.” 

Humbling oneself is great medicine, turning your joy into mourning and your laughter into tears is a sign of repentance and it shows humility.  God seeks the humble and repentant heart; that He will not despise.  So if you find that you are in this condition, do what James says and let the Lord lift you up in His time.  God always resists the proud but He always draws near to the humble.  Something to meditate on, may God bless you and help you do the right thing.  Have a great day!!    

The World’s Hatred

Jesus said they hated me without a cause in John 15:25.  There are many things that cause people to hate but one of the number one things that cause people to hate is the name of Jesus.  It has been that way since Jesus walked the earth and it seems to get worse every day.  

What did Jesus do to cause people to hate Him so much?  Jesus lived life the way it should be lived and He was hated for it by many, but there have been many that loved Him also.  Jesus also said in verse 23, “He that hateth me, hateth my Father also.”  One of the reasons the world, or the non-believers, hate Jesus is because of His teachings.  Their flesh recoils when they are confronted with sin or the truth.  

Think about liberals and conservatives, how do they react to one another and why? It is because they normally do not think alike which will cause divisions, separations, fights and arguments.  Just take those in our government; the democrats and republicans, normally they are at odds with one another and it is very hard to come to a bipartisan agreement amongst them.  

Now think of what Jesus taught and the way the world thinks.  Jesus came to save the lost and it cost Him severe pain and suffering and His very life to be our redeemer, but He willingly paid the price.  But it took more than suffering and dying and being raised back to life to save souls from their life of sin, it took confrontation, confronting people with their sin.  If Jesus suffered, died, was buried and rose again, which He did, and that was the end of the story no one would have hated Jesus because no one other than His disciples would have known that it happened.  Don’t forget there were hundreds of people that were crucified at that time and it wasn’t a shock to them, they were used to it, but I don’t think any of them suffered as much as Jesus and none of them were perfect and sinless like Jesus was.

The reason why Jesus is hated by the world (non-believers) is because of Him they are now confronted with their sin.  Like I said the flesh recoils when it hears the word sin.  When Jesus confronted people with their sin there was usually one of two responses, repentance or rejection, which would result in love or hate.  But the hate doesn’t stop there, Jesus also said in John 15:18-19, “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.”  Now we realize that hate falls on the believer also, from the world or non-believer, because we associate ourselves with Jesus.  

Like Jesus and the disciples confronted people with their sins, we as Jesus’ followers will have to confront people with their sins.  I know that we are taught not to offend people, but it is inevitable if we are true to the Word of God we will have to confront people with their sin which will cause some people to be offended whether we try to or not.  If you speak the truth you will no doubt offend someone.  Did you ever hear this, ‘The truth hurts?’ Think about it and don’t be shocked if someone gets offended and angry with you when you witness by sharing the truth, it is part of living a godly life.  Paul said if you live a godly life you will be persecuted, so don’t be overwhelmed when people act like they hate you because you are a believer, it is part of taking up your cross and following Jesus.  Rejoice if you are counted worthy to suffer for Christ and take heart and don’t forget to love those that persecute you and pray for them.

God bless you and yours and have a great day.  And don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord!!