Pentecost

PENTECOST

Just before JESUS ascended back into Heaven, He told His Disciples:

“Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” Acts 1:5

And He said: “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.” Acts 1:8

And some time during His ministry, He told His peers: “Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.” Matthew 16:28

As promised, JESUS came in His Kingdom on the day of Pentecost.

Here is that account.  I suppose it was Luke that said:

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.   [2] And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.   [3] And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.   [4] And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.   [5] And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 

[6] Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. [7] And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?   [8] And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?   [9] Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,   [10] Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, [11] Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.   [12] And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?   [13] Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.   [14] But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:   [15] For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. [16] But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;   [17] And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:   [18] And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:   [19] And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:”  Acts 2:1-19

According to John the kingdom did come on the day of Pentecost; 

He wrote: “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Rev. 21:2

If you wish to know how he saw it, he saw it through the eyes of his understanding.

Paul's charge to those at Ephesus was: “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling.” Ephesians 1:18

JESUS told His Disciples: “After 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.” Acts 1:8  

Since Paul said: “The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Romans 14:17

That was exactly what befell the disciples on the Day of Pentecost, and therefore according to that, John did see the Kingdom coming down from GOD out of Heaven on the Day of Pentecost. 

Here is a prophecy that was fulfilled on the Day the Holy Ghost came:

During the reign of Solomon the LORD GOD divided Israel into two Kingdoms while making Jereboam king over ten tribes, while leaving Rehabom, the son of Solomon two tribes to rule over.   Ah, but God prophesied through the pen of Ezekiel: “I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all:” Ezekiel 37:22

Then on the day of Pentecost GOD brought the two kingdoms back together making the twain one Kingdom and the King of Kings, JESUS CHRIST the Son of God ruling over them. Amen!   

Pentecost also affected the redeemed Gentiles in a big way.   John the Revelator tells it as he received it, for he said: “And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave

out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.” Revelation 11:1-2

The way I interpret this, though many of the Gentiles were saved and though some were super Christians they were not established in the doctrine of CHRIST which is obvious in the Book of Acts.

In the following I have listed three of the super Christians that were Gentiles that are listed in the New Testament.  They are as follows: 

And the woman of Canaan, that besought the master to cast the Devil out of her daughter.  Matthew 15:28

And the Centurion of whom, “JESUS marvelled and said to the people I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” Luke 7:9

In the Acts we find: “A certain man called Cornelius, a centurion, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.” Acts 10:1-2

Now the LORD had sent Peter to go to the house of a certain man called Cornelius where he preached:

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.   [Acts 10:34-48]

Now after the Gentiles were baptized into the Body of CHRIST, Abraham became their Father; for said Paul: “If ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:29

They had been removed from the outer court of the City of GOD where they joined Israel in the ministry of CHRIST, Amen!

Through an allegory, the apostle illustrated how and why GOD brought the saved Gentiles into the Kingdom. He told the Gentiles:

And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.   Romans 11:17-25

In the above, the Apostle warned the Gentiles that because of unbelief, Israel’s unbelievers were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:  For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

Yea, the doctrine on the two olive trees was not about Salvation but about the ministry: therefore said the Apostle “Be not highminded, but fear:  For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.”

Now, might I say that all they that were Baptized into the Kingdom, or the Body of CHRIST through and by the Blessed HOLY GHOST, were already saved; this made them part of the Body of CHRIST and equipped them with the gifts of the SPIRIT making them ministers of CHRIST. From day one the Gentiles became heirs and co-occupants with the Israel of GOD, the Church.  And said Paul: “If ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”   Galatians 3:29

Paul named the gifts of the SPIRIT where he wrote: “And God gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” Ephesians 4:11-12   

Not once does the New Testament say that JESUS brought about a better salvation; due to the fact that GOD counted Him slain from the foundation of the world. Revelation 13:8

However one did say: “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.” Hebrews 8:6

GOD told Father Abraham: “As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.  Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.”

Moreover that explained where Paul said: “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:” Romans 11:26

That also told us that the Church is the continuance of Israel.  No not of the letter but of the Spirit, and therefore I contend that from all the Scripture we’ve observed that, no wonder, Paul referred to the Church as the Israel of GOD.

Here’s what he said: “And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them.”

If you are saved by His grace and living for Christ, that would be you.

Amen!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Life of Jesus Christ on Earth

The Life of Jesus Christ on Earth

Months are based on the Hebrew calendar.
Beginning at Jesus’ ministry, I added the 6 feasts the Lord gave to Moses.

The Things that We Know:

·        Jesus was crucified at the Passover, the first month and 14^th day.
·        Jesus’ ministry was three and a half years long.
·        Jesus was 30 years old when He began His ministry.
·        From the start of Jesus’ ministry unto the stoning of Stephen was about seven years.

Using these things that we know and starting at the time that Jesus was crucified, then work backwards, paying close attention to the Feasts of God. Jesus started His ministry on or near the “Feast of Trumpets.” Exactly 30 years earlier, Jesus was born.

B.C. 5, 7/1

One of the things to look at to determine the birth of Jesus was the death of Herod the Great. He died in the spring of 4 BC and the Feast of Trumpets prior to his death was when Jesus was born on or near the “Feast of the Trumpets” 5 BC. The Feast of the Trumpets is the second Jewish New Year. This second Jewish New Year of Judaism begins on Rosh Hashanah, the first day of the seventh month Tishri. This year, Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on September 20^th (2017). Being the seventh month of the Jewish lunar calendar, it is the sabbatical month. What the seventh day of the week is to the week, Tishri is to the year. It signals a rest with the blowing of the trumpet, with a holy convocation (a large assembling of people).

B.C. 4, 7/1, age=1

B.C. 3, 7/1, age=2
B.C. 2, 7/1, age=3
B.C. 1, 7/1, age=4
1 A.D., 7/1, age=5
2 A.D., 7/1, age=6
3 A.D., 7/1, age=7
4 A.D., 7/1, age=8
5 A.D., 7/1, age=9
6 A.D., 7/1, age=10
7 A.D., 7/1, age=11
8 A.D., 7/1, age=12 – Jesus was in the temple for the Passover feast
9 A.D., 7/1, age=13
10 A.D., 7/1, age=14
11 A.D., 7/1, age=15
12 A.D., 7/1, age=16
13 A.D., 7/1, age=17
14 A.D., 7/1, age=18
15 A.D., 7/1, age=19
16 A.D., 7/1, age=20
17 A.D., 7/1, age=21
18 A.D., 7/1, age=22
19 A.D., 7/1, age=23
20 A.D., 7/1, age=24
21 A.D., 7/1, age=25
22 A.D., 7/1, age=26
23 A.D., 7/1, age=27
24 A.D., 7/1, age=28
25 A.D., 7/1, age=29

26 A.D., 1/14, age=29 ½, Passover.

26 A.D., 1/15, age=29 ½, Feast of Unleavened Bread.
26 A.D., 1/21, age=29 ½, Feast of First Fruits.
26 A.D., 3/16-17, age= 29y8m, Feast of Weeks or Pentecost.
26 A.D., 7/1, age=30, First, Feast of Trumpets,
·        30th Birth date,
·        John baptized Jesus,
·        the start of Jesus’ ministry,
·        the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
26 A.D., 7/10, age=30, First, Day of Atonement
26 A.D., 7/15, age=30, First, Feast of Tabernacles

27 A.D., 1/14, age=30 ½, First, Passover of His ministry.

27 A.D., 1/15, age=30 ½, First, Feast of Unleavened Bread of His ministry.
27 A.D., 1/21, age=30 ½, First, Feast of First Fruits of His ministry.
27 A.D., 3/16-17, age= 30y8m, First, Feast of Weeks of His ministry or Pentecost.
27 A.D., 7/1, age=31, Second, Feast of Trumpets,  31^st Birth Date.
27 A.D., 7/10, age=31, Second, Day of Atonement
27 A.D., 7/15, age=31, Second, Feast of Tabernacles

28 A.D., 1/14, age=31 ½, Second, Passover of His ministry.

28 A.D., 1/15, age=31 ½, Second, Feast of Unleavened Bread of His ministry.
28 A.D., 1/21, age=31 ½, Second, Feast of First Fruits of His ministry.
28 A.D., 3/16-17, age= 31y8m, Second, Feast of Weeks of His ministry or Pentecost.
28 A.D., 7/1, age=32, Third, Feast of Trumpets,  32nd Birth Date.
28 A.D., 7/10, age=32, Third, Day of Atonement
28 A.D., 7/15, age=32, Third, Feast of Tabernacles

29 A.D., 1/14, age=32 ½, Third, Passover of His ministry.

29 A.D., 1/15, age=32 ½, Third, Feast of Unleavened Bread of His ministry.
29 A.D., 1/21, age=32 ½, Third, Feast of First Fruits of His ministry.
29 A.D., 3/16-17, age= 32y8m, Third, Feast of Weeks of His ministry or Pentecost.
29 A.D., 7/1, age=33, Fourth, Feast of Trumpets,          33rd Birth Date.
29 A.D., 7/10, age=33, Fourth, Day of Atonement
29 A.D., 7/15, age=33, Fourth, Feast of Tabernacles

30 A.D., 1/14, age= 33 ½, Fourth Passover of His ministry

·        His Crucifixion
·        His death and burial, the end of His Earthly ministry.   
·        This is where Daniel spoke of the Messiah being cut off in the middle of the week.
30 A.D., 1/15, age=33 ½, Fourth, Feast of Unleavened Bread of His ministry.
30 A.D., 1/16, age=33 ½, Jesus’ Resurrection.
30 A.D., 1/21, age=33 ½, Fourth, Feast of First Fruits of His ministry.
30 A.D., 3/16-17, age= 33y8m, Fourth, Feast of Weeks of His ministry.
·        Pentecost, the out pouring of the Holy Ghost, the beginning of the gospel being preached to Jerusalem, Judaea and Samaria.
30 A.D., 7/1, age=34, Fifth, Feast of Trumpets, 34th Birth Date, now enthroned in Heaven
30 A.D., 7/10, age=34, Fifth, Day of Atonement
30 A.D., 7/15, age=34, Fifth, Feast of Tabernacles

31 A.D., 1/15, age=34 ½, Fifth, Feast of Unleavened Bread of His ministry.

31 A.D., 1/21, age=34 ½, Fifth, Feast of First Fruits of His ministry.
31 A.D., 3/16-17, age= 34y8m, Fifth, Feast of Weeks of His ministry,
Pentecost
31 A.D., 7/1, age=35, Fifth, Feast of Trumpets, 
31 A.D., 7/10, age=35, Fifth, Day of Atonement
31 A.D., 7/15, age=35, Fifth, Feast of Tabernacles

32 A.D., 1/14, age=35 ½, Fifth, Passover.

32 A.D., 1/15, age=35 ½, Fifth, Feast of Unleavened Bread.
32 A.D., 1/21, age=35 ½, Fifth, Feast of First Fruits.
32 A.D., 3/16-17, age= 35y8m, Fifth, Feast of Weeks, Pentecost.
32 A.D., 7/1, age=36, Fourth, Feast of Trumpets,
32 A.D., 7/10, age=36, Fourth, Day of Atonement
32 A.D., 7/15, age=36, Fourth, Feast of Tabernacles

33 A.D., 1/14, age=36 ½, Fifth, Passover.

33 A.D., 1/15, age=36 ½, Fifth, Feast of Unleavened Bread.
33 A.D., 1/21, age=36 ½, Fifth, Feast of First Fruits.
33 A.D., 3/16-17, age= 36y8m, Fifth, Feast of Weeks, Pentecost.
33 A.D., 7/1, age=37, Fourth, Feast of Trumpets,
33 A.D., 7/10, age=37, Fourth, Day of Atonement
33 A.D., 7/15, age=37, Fourth, Feast of Tabernacles

34 A.D., 1/14, age=37 ½, Fifth, Passover.

34 A.D., 1/15, age=37 ½, Fifth, Feast of Unleavened Bread.
34 A.D., 1/21, age=37 ½, Fifth, Feast of First Fruits.
34 A.D., 3/16-17, age= 37y8m, Fifth, Feast of Weeks, Pentecost.
34 A.D., 7/1, age=38, Fourth, Feast of Trumpets,
·        The gospel was preached in Samaria.
·        The stoning of Stephen.   
·        Marked the 490^th (70 weeks) year of Daniel’s prophecy in
     Daniel 9:24-27.
34 A.D., 7/10, age=38, Fourth, Day of Atonement
34 A.D., 7/15, age=38, Fourth, Feast of Tabernacles

Searching the Scriptures for the Deeper Things of God

SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES

FOR THE DEEPER REVELATIONS OF GOD

July 23, 2009

First, I would like to quote some of the truths the Bible has to say about itself.

The Psalmist said; “The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.”  Psalm 12:6

Peter wrote; “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”  2 Peter 1:21

From those men we have learned that the Word of God is pure and that it is from God.

Then there is where Jesus said; “search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they, which testify of me.” John 5:39

In other words all Scripture testifies of our Lord Jesus Christ either, directly or indirectly.   

Jesus shined more light on the subject. He said; “Then Said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.”  Hebrews 10:7  Jesus’ statement assured us that the Holy Bible is all about Him and none other.  

Jesus is the Word of God, John said of Him; “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1

 

The Holy Bible is the written Word of God, verbatim, thus its every statement is a blessed revelation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Now the deeper thoughts of the Holy Writ lie hidden beneath the letter, the letter being that which is seen and read when we open our KJV.

When righteous men/women read the letter, oft times The Blessed Holy Spirit of God will provoke a thought of a spiritual nature.

The flesh or the outward man of both the saved and the unsaved are carnal minded, and, “The carnal mind is enmity against God: and it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Romans 8:7 

That means that the carnal man is sensual and it minds the things of the flesh and not the things of God.  In other words carnal minded men do not understand the underlying messages that God has offer through the letter.

Paul set us straight on the natural or the carnal minded man. He wrote; “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:14 

If you have a desire to study and understand the deeper sayings of God, Here is wisdom.  Some of you remember Brother Bob Jones of Toledo Ohio.  In one of his sermons he said that after you have become well read and have a desire to doctor on the deeper things of the Holy Scriptures, start with the passage(s) of the Word that you thoroughly understand, and then add the other scriptures to it, those that are not so easy to understand.

I took that saying to heart.

Therefore, I say, if you have a desire to be a doctrinal teacher, you become that teacher, by reading God’s Word unrelentingly.

By that I mean read the bible through until you have read it no less than three times in rapid succession.   After reading the Word through as prescribed, I believe you will begin to combine scriptures that will come together as a doctrine. 

The prophet Isaiah told us the things that we would be dealing with when we search the Scriptures. He wrote; “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:” Isaiah 28:10

Now, here a little, and there a little: means that doctrines on many biblical subjects are scattered throughout the Bible and they are to be found somewhere between Genesis 1:1 and Revelation 22: 21 of the KJV. Version of the Bible, Amen!

Then he continued; “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept.”

Webster says that a precept is “a command or principal intended especially as a general rule of action, an order issued by legally constituted authority to a subordinate.”

What that means, to us is that the prophets and Apostles received their message from God, then they past it on to their peers by word of mouth. Then as God willed, they jotted it down in the form of text and it became Holy Scripture. That is what we have today which we call THE HOLY BIBLE. 

Isaiah also said of Biblical doctrine, that it is: “line upon line, line upon line. That means that the underlying messages lie beneath the letter and that the letter must have first consideration because it is a window through which we see the spiritual things.

Here is one of the scriptures that is easy to be understood. Jesus said; “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” John 5:28-29

Taking into consideration the encouraging recommendation that the Reverend Bob Jones made; and the simplicity of what our Savior said, convinced me that at the last day there will be one general resurrection and not  a resurrection of the just then a millennium later the resurrection of the unjust.

Some, if not most, bible scholars take where John wrote; “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power…” Revelation 20:6  As being a bodily resurrection of the saints instead of the resurrection of the soul.

I can see where one might interpret what John said; as being the bodily resurrection of the saints.  After all John’s doctrine on the first resurrection fits the resurrection of both the soul and the body of the saint.  But nay, Jesus rendered that doctrine null and void.  He said; “…the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”

Jesus also said;  “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.”  In that statement Jesus spoke of His Everlasting Gospel; and that it was life to those who heard it with an attentive ear.

Now, the life that Jesus made mention of, is had through our being raised with Him in His Resurrection; for Jesus was the first to be resurrected, and we were partakers of that resurrection.

And we are; Blessed and holy and the second death hath no power over our soul.” Amen!

If those whom believe that the saved can be lost, could understand that “Blessed and holy and the second death hath no power over them.” Applies to the soul, rather than the body, then there would be no such doctrine as one being lost after they are saved.

Paul described the time wherein he, and we had part in the First resurrection.

He said; “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” Colossians 2:12

Then He taught that we were resurrected with Jesus. He said; “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” Colossians 3:1

Please, let no one say that being, “Buried with Him in baptism,” is the water baptism. Although water baptism is an outward expressing of what has taken place on the inside. Water baptism was highly recommended by our Lord, for, when Jesus came to John to be Baptized of him;  He told John; ”… Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.”  Matthew 3:15  

May the God of the whole earth be praised forever,

Amen!

THE OLD SABBATH AND THE NEW CHRISTIAN SABBATH

After creating Heaven and earth in six days the LORD GOD rested and established the Sabbath.

Moses wrote: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

“And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” Genesis 1:31

And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.” Genesis 2:2 

And GOD said: “Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings.” Leviticus 23:3

And therefore the LORD told Moses: “For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” Exodus 20:11  

Yea, JESUS brought in a better way for observing the Sabbath.

After completing the work that the FATHER sent Him to do, He was Crucified on a Friday and was buried the same the next day being the Old Testament Sabbath, and His Body  being at a complete rest He fulfilled the Old Sabbath ,and seeing that completed His bodily work then GOD raised Him from the dead on the first day of the week establishing the New Christian Sabbath.   

Then there is where JESUS told His peers: “Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.” Matthew 16:28  

The LORD told Moses: “And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Sabbaths shall be complete: [16] Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord.” Leviticus 23:15-16

Then there is Pentecost, after doing the math you see that JESUS came in His Kingdom on the first day of the week which is to say on the Christian Sabbath.

And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.” Acts 20:7

 

 

The Letter Killeth but The Spirit Giveth Life

THE LETTER KILLETH BUT THE SPIRIT GIVETH LIFE

 

Our subject came from where Paul said of our wonderful Savior: "Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”

2 Corinthians 3:6

I tell you the Apostle Paul never ceases to amaze me; He often said more in one breath than I can explain in a week.  Nevertheless I love it.

Now let’s get started. The Apostle explained the difference between the letter that killeth and the Spirit that giveth life.  Yea, the taker of life is the Law Covenant while the Grace Covenant is the giver of life through the Spirit of GOD.  In agreement, Paul said of us who have passed from death unto life: “But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.”  Romans 7:6

He also added to our understanding by saying: “But now he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”

Romans 2:29 

In his brilliance Paul has explained in depth the diversity between the two major Covenants: namely Law and Grace. 

What’s more the Commandments of GOD are ten.  But let’s let Moses tell us how he obtained them.  He said: “And GOD gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.” Exodus 31:18  

Now the two tables of testimony have this in common, both are the composite of the Ten Commandments.

Paul gave a good example of that composition when he wrote:  “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.” Romans 7:7

The Commandments apply to mankind in diverse ways and at different times of life.  When King Solomon said: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” (Eccles. 12:13) he left out nothing that pertained to the way the Commandments relate to mankind.

Starting with the Moral Law, it was that application of the Law that Good old America was founded upon.  The Moral Law is enforced by elected and appointed officials such as mayors, sheriffs, and deputies, policemen, etcetera.  This tells us that the Law applies to the natural man. 

The Spirit of man is also subject to the Law.  Early in life of an individual the Law comes and revives the sin that he or she inherited from the first Adam.  “For In Adam all die.”  The Apostle told of the time the Law enter the door of his heart when he said: “For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.”

And to better our understanding, He questioned:  “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. [8] But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.”

Romans 7:7-9

He also said that he would not have known lust except the law had said: “Thou shalt not covet.”   However if Paul had broken only one Commandment, said the Apostle James: “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

James 2:10

(However, that is only true in the case of sinners for we that are saved are not under the Law therefore we are only accountable for the Commandment we break.)

Ah, but we say to sinners: “Take heart, for the same Law that revived sin in you, even the Law that made us accountable for sin, offers to bring you to CHRIST to be saved.”

So said the Apostle and he wrote: “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” Galatians 3:24-25 

“But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” 

Galatians 3:25   

Sorry to say, but there be few that find the narrow way that GOD provided through faith in JESUS CHRIST.

Paul said of his countrymen:  “They being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”

Romans 10:3

The prophet Isaiah forbade such self-righteousness.  
He wrote: “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Isaiah 64:6   

Therefore when sinners trust in his or her own righteousness, they are guilty of misusing the commandments and that is: “The letter that killeth.”      

On the other hand, when the HOLY SPIRIT delivers the Law as schoolmaster, its aim is to convict of sin and it becomes: “the spirit that giveth life.”

In alliance with that truth JESUS said: “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:44

When JESUS said: “Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.” Matthew 5:25

(I believe He is saying: “Admit you are a sinner.”)  

Strong evidence of salvation is true repentance.

Paul gave a good example of what genuine repentance is when he wrote: “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.”  Ephesians 4:25-28 

In another Scripture, He said:  “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” (That is repentance as well.)    

May God be blessed forever, Amen, and Amen!!

 

 

Speaking with Other Tongues

SPEAKING WITH OTHER TONGUES

(AND MORE)

December 31, 2007

The author of Acts wrote: “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.”  Acts 2:1-4

I don’t intend to comment on those scriptures, for they do a great job of explaining themselves.

But as the writer continued, He said:  “And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.   Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 

And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?  And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?  Parthians, and Medusa, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.”

Acts 2:5-11

When the Lord gave utterance, those Galleons spoke in a language that was not their native language, neither had they learned it.  I believe, in that session God gave his servants utterance to speak the language of those sixteen nations for the purpose of equipping them with the means whereby they were carry the Gospel to their own native country.

 

Thus, every man heard the disciples speak in their native language wherein they were born.

And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?  Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.”

 Acts 2:12-13

“But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:  For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

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: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:” Acts 2:14-18

When the Holy Ghost came, He brought with Him all the gifts that were needed to carry out ‘the great Commission’ that Jesus had assigned to His disciples.  

That commission was: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”  Mark 16:15-16    

Just before Jesus ascended back into Heaven, He laid down the ground rules for His disciples to follow as they published His good news.  

He said: “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.” 

Acts 1:8.  Did they preach the gospel to every creature under heaven? Yea, during that generation, the apostles, the devout men, along with Jesus’ other disciples carried out His charge to the letter.  The Apostle Paul agreed by saying: “Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.”  Romans 10:18b  

After being thrust out with the rest of Israel, the small remnant was baptized back into the Kingdom on the day of Pentecost.  Yet there were others of the elect to be instated or in some cases reinstated into the kingdom, for on the Day of Pentecost the kingdom was void of its occupants.  That was to the fulfillment of where the Lord prophesied:  “Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel, [3] And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked.   [4]  Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall my sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from the south to the north:”

Ezekiel 21:2-4

The Lord had also prophesied: “And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”  Matthew 24:3

(The trumpet they sounded was the Gospel.)

Lest anyone should assume that Jesus was referring to the gathering of the elect at the end of the world.  He added, “Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.  Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.”   Mark 13:30-31

The Lord told His disciples: “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…”

After that Peter preached his sermon at Jerusalem.  The writer said:  “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”  Acts 2:41

Next on the agenda to be evangelized was Samaria.  The writer penned: “Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John.  Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:  (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)”

Now don’t assume that such baptism was of water, for the baptism in the name of Jesus ministered salvation to their soul.   Then they laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.    Acts 8:14-17   Through that process the apostles, Peter and John gathered the Samaritan newborn into the kingdom of God. 

Next, Peter preached to Cornelius and his house by saying: “To Jesus give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.  While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them, which heard the word.  And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.”   Acts 10:43-45 

Preaching was the means whereby Peter used to gather the Gentiles into the kingdom.  The writer said: “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them.”

Sometime later the Writer caught up with the great apostle.  He wrote: ”Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?    And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.  And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.  Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.  When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  (I believe the writer is saying that these had an ear to hear and that they heard, believed, repented to the salvation of their soul.)  And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.  And all the men were about twelve.”  Acts 19:1-7

The writer said: “When Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.”  Paul gathered those twelve into the kingdom through his teaching and lying on of his hands.  (This was the last biblical recorded event, where speaking in tongues and prophesying was witnessed after receiving the Holy Ghost.)

Paul told those at Corinth; “Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.”  1 Corinthians 14:22  

The supernatural of speaking with tongues and prophesying was a sign that the elect had been received into the kingdom, that kingdom being the Church.

Now while the Church was in its infancy, the language barrier was forbidding and it presented quiet a problem, especially among those that neither spoke nor understood the language of specific local gatherings. However, that was a natural obstacle rather than being a supernatural one.

Paul devoted the entire fourteenth chapter of First Corinthians to explain how a church services should be conducted when there was a language bearer; especially when minorities wished to take part in the service.   Here is what he said: “For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him;  howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 

He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.  I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.”  1 Corinthians 14:2-5

My interpretation of what Paul said is that if one is singing, preaching or praying in the language that the majority of the congregation understands, then he is prophesying; which is to say, promoting growth in the body. On the other hand if he doesn’t speak the language that  the congregation does, then he is to refrain from speaking unless there is another present to interpret.  Otherwise he is to speak to himself and to God.

Paul also wrote: “If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.  But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.    Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.  If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.”  1 Corinthians 14:27-29

Then he said:  “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”    Ephesians 4:4-6

Amen!