Expecting the same old story? Think again…
Religious tradition vs. Powerful relationship with the living God
Countless numbers of people have invested years of their lives following religion and then left it all behind because the traditions and rituals could never convince them if they were following the truth.
Paul the apostle said in 1 Corinthians 2: 4, “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” Paul was explaining that God does not expect people to operate on blind faith, but to follow a God who will actively demonstrate His miraculous presence in their lives.
Religion exists because people are willing to unquestioningly accept the traditions of their forefathers. God does not want us to be religious. He wants us to have a tangible, personal relationship with Him through His Son Jesus Christ, evidenced and sealed by the Holy Spirit with which He chooses to anoint us. The Holy Spirit is God’s promise to all who diligently seek Him – both young and old – as long as they are old enough to knowingly and actively repent:
John 14: 6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Acts 4: 12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
Acts 2: 38, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
Acts 5: 32, “And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.”
Luke 11: 9-13, “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 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?”
Jesus never “asked for your heart”
Jesus Christ came to preach of the Kingdom of God and to introduce the New Covenant. He spoke of many things, most importantly those things pertaining to eternal life in His Father’s Kingdom.
Contrary to common belief, Jesus did not tell people to just accept Him as their Lord and Savior, to give their hearts over to Him, or to say a “sinner’s prayer.” He gave people God’s specific instructions:
John 3: 5-7, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”
Jesus explained that not only His death, but also His resurrection and ascension were an important part of God’s plan:
John 16: 7, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter” (the Holy Spirit) “will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”
John 14: 16-17, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
Jesus also declared that the Holy Spirit anointing would be a powerful experience:
Luke 24: 49, “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”
Acts 1: 4-5, 8: “And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence…But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
It did not end with Jesus dying on the cross
God sent His Son Jesus Christ as the most perfect lamb, to be crucified and thereby end the Old Covenant requirement for sacrifices. But, as is commonly misunderstood, the shedding of Jesus’ blood did not automatically wipe clean the sins of all mankind. Nor was it was ever intended by God for people to simply choose to believe in Jesus’ death and resurrection in order to “be saved.” Rather, Jesus’ death and resurrection opened the door to the Father, giving all people the opportunity to be cleansed and born again through water baptism and the Holy Spirit anointing. Jesus paved the way for the Holy Spirit anointing which is the down payment of inheritance of eternal life:
Ephesians 1: 12-14, “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
Even John the Baptist prophesied of the purpose of Jesus’ coming:
Matthew 3: 11, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:”
It was not until the disciples were anointed with the Holy Spirit that they were truly in a position to testify of Jesus with power and authority. Before His death, Jesus declared to His disciples:
John 14: 26, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
John 15: 26, “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:”
Also, in Luke 22: 32, Jesus said to Peter, “…when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” This clearly demonstrates that the disciples (though they had followed Jesus for three years, and had witnessed and even performed many miracles) still needed to undergo a conversion process that Jesus stated would happen at a later date.
The Day of Pentecost was the beginning of the New Covenant
The New Testament (Covenant) agreement between God and mankind began the moment the Holy Spirit first came to indwell man on the Day of Pentecost (ten days after Jesus ascended to the Father, and 50 days – Pentecost means “fiftieth” – after Jesus rose from the dead. Note: Jesus spent 40 more days with His disciples after His resurrection). Up until this time, God’s people were expected to follow the law (the Ten Commandments plus hundreds of other laws governing all aspects of living a holy, healthy, harmonious, and prosperous life) in order to remain in right standing with Him.
The Bible describes the infilling of the Holy Spirit as the Word of God coming to dwell within the body, the will of God transcribed upon the heart and mind. It is by obedience to this indwelling power that God now considers a person to be righteous i.e. in right standing with Him:
Hebrews 10: 16-17, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.”
Romans 8: 14, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
There were 120 disciples who obeyed Jesus’ command to wait in Jerusalem to be “endued with power from on high” (Luke 24: 49). Their experience was miraculous, powerful, and tangible:
Acts 2: 1-4, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
When the word spread through the city about what had happened, there was much speculation about its source. Yet, Peter clarified the reality of the occurrence:
Acts 2: 16-17, “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh…”
Acts 2: 33, “Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.”
Those who were moved by the truth of Peter’s words asked, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2: 37). Peter’s simple and direct response was, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call,” (Acts 2: 38-39). This scripture goes on to say, “And with many other words did he” (Peter) “testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation,” (Acts 2: 40).
The book of Acts goes on to record the lives of various disciples who went on to preach the New Covenant requirements to others. Most often they were rejected, but at times they encountered humble hearts that came to share in the disciples’ experience with the very same first evident sign of speaking in tongues:
Mark 16:15-20, “And he” (Jesus) “said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized” (by water and the Holy Spirit) “shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe…they shall speak with new tongues…they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover…So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.”
The book of Acts, the gospels, and many of the New Testament letters highlight the minority acceptance of the truth. These scriptures are reassurance to those who feel they are few, compassed about on every side by opposition and resistance. Since the beginning of time, God’s true disciples have always been few in number. Yet, God concerns Himself not with quantity, but with quality:
Matthew 10: 34-36, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.”
Luke 12: 51, “Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:”
Matthew 7: 21-23, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Matthew 22: 14, “…many are called, but few are chosen.”
Matthew 7: 13-14, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
1 Peter 5: 5, “…be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”
It’s your life…or death
Many well meaning and sincere people go to church each week thinking they are doing the right thing by God. Make sure you are on the right track according to God’s Word. Examine your beliefs according to scripture:
Ephesians 5: 17, “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”
Proverbs 16: 25, “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
Do not let your life be guided by speculations and ideas gathered from the philosophies of others. We enter into this life alone and we go out alone. Be positive that something as precious as your own existence is based upon truth.
Galatians 1: 10, “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”
Philippians 2: 12, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”