4-5-2025    Water Baptism & Baptism in the Spirit

  

Baptism is a symbol of Christ's burial and resurrection. Our entrance into the water during baptism identifies us with Christ's death on the cross, His burial in the tomb and as we rise up, His resurrection from the dead.  It is a symbol of our brand new life as a Christian.  It is an outward ‘cleansing’ of the body reflecting the inward cleansing of the soul.  It is symbolic so we don’t take a bath when being baptized with water (don’t take the soap, lol).

Washing away our sin 

Baptism with water is an outward indication of the cleansing of our soul within.  But before we can be cleansed, we need to acknowledge that all of mankind are sinners and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:19-23).  Then we need to acknowledge that Jesus as the Son of God who came into this world to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and sin (1 John 1:7-10).  Then we need to confess Jesus as Lord of our lives with our mouth and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, then we shall be saved (Romans 10:9). 

God is not bound by ‘human’ protocol but by His Word (He. 6:13-20).  So our ‘human order’ of events is not necessarily God’s order. 

      Rom. 6:1-11                Buried with Christ in death but raised to life eternal in Jesus

The thief on the cross did not receive ‘scriptural’ water baptism.  The thief’s legs were broken so we know the thief was dead by the time he was taken from the cross (John 19:31-32) – result was no water baptism for him

      Luke 23:39-43             This day you will be with me in paradise

When the thief said “Remember me …”, he was acknowledging Jesus as his Savior and Jesus replied “today you will be with Me in paradise”. Jesus acknowledged the thief’s confession unto salvation.

      Rom. 10:9                    Confess with your mouth and believe in your heart ….

This passage is pretty clear – we believe that Jesus is our Savior, confess the same with our mouth and believe, with all our heart) that we will be with Him throughout eternity.  We will!

 Rom. 10:13-15      Believing comes by hearing/hearing by a preacher/the preacher is he was sent

So how do we get the opportunity to make our decision?  Usually, a preacher (or someone other than ourselves) will share Jesus with us, but God has to inspire that someone to come to us so we can hear about the love of Jesus so we can believe.

      Isaiah  38:17                Sin cast behind My back

      Micah 7:19                  Cast our sins into the depth of the sea

So what happens to our sin? God forgets all confessed sin and does as Isaiah and Micah say.  I like to say ”God forgives us our sin, put them behind his back and they slide off into the sea of forgetfulness.”

      Acts 22:16                   Be baptized and wash away your sins

      1 Peter 3:21                Baptism washes our conscience clean

So we are baptized in water as a symbol of our sins being washed away by the blood of the lamb (Jesus) and we are raised a new creature in Christ Jesus.  As we said, God forgets forgiven sins.  And so should we! 

      Matt. 3:11-17              Jesus is baptized with water

Jesus had to be baptized by John (the Baptist) indicating that he has washed away the sins of the world so He would be qualified to step in as our savior.  Understand that Jesus’ heart was always right with Father (Matt. 3:17, Math. 17:5).  Yet He gave an outward expression for our benefit.

Acts 8:5-15            In Samaria, Phillip baptized with water but Peter & John baptized them in in the Holy Ghost

Acts8:28-38           Eunuch baptized by Phillip

Philip expresses the need to continue with water baptism as an expression for our salvation experience.  Yet, Peter and John indicate that there is more to come.

Acts 10:34-47        Cornelius and his family baptized in the Holy Ghost then in water

Acts 19:1-6            Paul baptizes twelve disciples in Ephesus.  “Have you received the received the Holy Ghost since you believed?” 

Understand, John’s baptism was for repentance but did not necessarily include knowledge of who Jesus is nor the Holy Ghost.   These passages reflects Father’s focus on our heart and not just on what we do.  Note that with the thief on the cross, the thief acknowledged who Jesus is, then Jesus acknowledged the change in the thief’s heart and assures him of salvation. 

Again, water baptism reflects the cleansing of our heart and soul.  Sometimes, even Christians get hung up on the order of protocol and if things aren’t done in a certain order they are not valid.  I thank God that He judges our actions as He looks at our heart.  But understand, we first have to receive Jesus into our heart before we can receive baptism with water or the Holy Ghost

So now let us talk about receiving power.

 John 14:15-17        As we abide in Jesus, the Comforter (HG) shall be in us

We saw the Holy Ghost come upon Jesus with His baptism by John.  Jesus promises that the Holy Ghost shall abide in us as well.

John 20:22             Jesus commands us to receive the Holy Ghost

Acts 1:4-8              Promise of the Holy Ghost is He who brings us power

The Holy Ghost is the breath of God (pneuma G4151) and this is the same Holy Ghost in which Jesus operated.  Jesus gave us the authority (G1849 exsousia (Matt.:1, Luke 10:1, 17) but through the Holy Ghost, we gain dunamis power (G1411), the ability to get the job done!

 Acts 2:1-18            Apostles and disciples receive baptism of the Holy Ghost

Acts 9:17-18          Ananias prays Paul to receive the Holy Ghost

Acts 10:34-47        Cornelius and his household receive the Holy Ghost

Acts 19:1-6            The twelve in Ephesus receive the Holy Ghost

Four New Testament examples of people, other than Jesus, being baptized with the Holy Ghost.  Note that both Jews and Gentiles (us non-Jews) are also to receive the Holy Ghost and It is not ‘just’ a suggestion.  A thing is established by two or more witnesses (Matt. 18:16).

Rom. 8:26-27        Holy Ghost helps us to pray, He intercedes for us.

1 Corinth. 14:14-19  Praying in the Spirit edifies us but we don’t understand what is being said. Pray in the Spirit, but pray with understanding so all may be blessed.

Want a closer relationship with the Lord?  The Holy Ghost helps us to do just that.

1 Corinth. 13:1-2  Love is the foundation of our ‘Spiritual’ speaking with others

Luke 12:11-12       Holy Ghost will give us what we should say

John 16:13-15        Holy Ghost will guide us into truth and show us things to come

Eph. 6:18               Persevere in all prayer and supplications in the Spirit

The Holy Ghost is He who gives us knowledge and wisdom so we know how to deal with all situations which come upon us.  He will never lie to us and He gives us direction in this life.  So whatsoever we say and do should be in love and done to edify others.

John 14:10-13        We can do those things which Jesus did and greater.  If we ask anything in His name, He will do it!

The Holy Ghost gives us the power to do that to which Father has called us.  Our job is to receive and believe (matt. 21:22).

1 John 4:13            We know that God is in us via the indwelling Holy Ghost

This passage tells us that the Holy Ghost (should we doubt) will confirm our salvation.

1 Thess. 4:16-17    We shall be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air

The Holy Ghost in us is who gives us the power to meet Jesus when that time comes.

Many believe that we receive the Holy Ghost when we receive Jesus into our heart. Some of these passages imply that may not necessarily be the case.  Not going to argue here, but consider this:  should we receive the Holy Ghost at the same time we receive Jesus, too many Christians, perhaps without realizing it, immediately put Him (the HG) in a closet and don’t allow Him to operate fully in our lives.  That is we “quench” the Holy Ghost.  And Paul reminds us “not to quench the Spirit (HG)” (1 Thess. 5:19).  As we allow Holy Ghost free reign in our life, we will see these passages and more become manifested in us and through us!

Again water baptism reflects the heartfelt commitment we’ve made to Jesus and the baptism of the Holy Ghost truly gives us the power, to have a productive life and to live in, for and through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

 

 3-22-2025 Job & our Relationship with our Heavenly Father                                            

Over a year ago, Father showed me Job 42:5.  He showed me that my relationship with Him was not yet where I thought it was nor was it where He wanted me to be.  How much He has shown me over the past year!

Job 42:1-5

When Father showed me this passage, like Job’s, my eyes were really opened to my relationship with Father.  Off and on, I would share with someone about the ‘sidewalk adage’.  Consider a boulevard.  Most parking spaces and traffic lanes allow about eight feet from side to side so a two lane, each way, plus parking (six lanes) would be about forty-eight feet.  Let’s say two men were walking on the sidewalk, going the same way but on different sides of the street.  Each man would be ‘aware’ of the man on the other side of the street.  They may even acknowledge each other and they may try to communicate back and forth as they walk.  The man on one side of street, speaking in a normal tone, would be doing okay (from his perspective) but the man on the other side of the street might hardly hear him, if at all.  Ergo, the voice level would have to be raised, significantly, and even then they may not be very successful in communicating.  If one man walks towards the center of the street, communication becomes better. But when both men wind up on the same side of the street, communication becomes very clear and understood.  Get the picture?

Let’s look another example.  Some people believe that President Joe Biden is the best thing since mom’s apple pie.  Others believe that Donald Trump is the best thing since mom’s apple pie and each group thinks that the other is worse than dog poop.  We know about both men by what we read in the newspaper or magazine or what we see on TV or other social media.  Keep in mind that the media only shows us what it wants us to see, that is substantiating its perspective.  Maybe we don’t deal with the media but go by what people we know tell us.  So, the question is “who has ever, actually, shook their hand or even met and got to talk with Joe or Donald”?  Most of us only know what the world around us tells us.  Written and visual media can be manipulated to support the point they are projecting.  We may never know the intention or truth unless we encounter the persons or situation in person.

So what did Job say in his relationship with God?  “I’ve heard about You, but now I have seen You with my own eyes!”   

Job grew up learning about God.  Most likely, he also heard other people’s experience with God (testimony).  The first two chapters of Job, God sets the stage.  God declared Job a righteous man, that is he was abiding according to God’s law (Job 1:8, 2:3).  Yet, Job experiences much hardship and disappointment in losing his possessions and children.  The next thirty plus chapters Job argues with his friends about unrepented sin.  Job challenges the fairness of God then, for four chapters God takes the stage with Job. God gets up close and personal with Job and puts things into proper perspective!  Job comes to realize that, though he knew about God, he had never taken the time to really get to know the Creator of all things.  And Through his experience Job has now met God ‘face to face’.  He has come to know God up close and personal.  He has come get a personal understanding and relationship with Father.

So, just where is our relationship with God?  Do we know ‘all about’ Him or have we come to the point where we truly ‘know’ who He is?

Job and his friends knew the scriptures, that is what they said and they lived was by the law.  Yet,through his experience, Job came to know the heart of our Lord!

True, we have to come to ‘know about’ God before we can truly come to ‘know’ Him.  Knowledge does come from hearing the Word, then the Word must come through some sort of communication and that communication may be through reading the bible or someone telling us about the Word (a preacher).  If we don’t read the bible or if a preacher is not sent, where does that leave us? Usually with someone telling us what they think we should know.  But how can we know what another person tells us unless he is truly sent (by God) and then by hearing, we receive Jesus into our heart (Rom. 10:13-18).  The day I let Jesus into my heart I knew that ‘then’ I was saved.  I felt a huge burden being lifted off of my body!  I learned later that this was the Holy Ghost confirming my salvation in my heart (2 Corinth. 1:21-22). 

Yet still, there is an obligation on our part.  If we love the lord, we will keep his commandments (John 14:15).  That is, live the best that we can abiding in His will.  Did you catch that?  I said in His will!  The words help us understand His will so we can abide therein.  Jesus brings us life and helps us to be productive in our life (John 10:10).  As we seek and abide in His Will, He will provide for us.  AND He desires us to continue (abide) in His love (John 15:4-9).  Coming to truly know God first enables us to abide in His love.  Then as we abide in His love, we share that love with others (Matt. 28:19-20).

I’ve discovered as I read the scriptures, my mind is being renewed (Romans 12:2).  I’ve discovered that every time I go back over scripture, Father gives me more clarity and a deeper understanding of what that passage is slaying.  My prayer time has also expanded.  Instead of just ‘barking out’ my needs, I also sit back and listen to understand what Father is trying to tell me.  After all, the Holy Ghost will lead me into all truth, right (John 16:13)?  So I also pray in the Spirit (Eph. 6:18).

Through trials and tribulations Job came to know God personally. Consider Enoch who loved God and whom God loved so that He took him, Enoch did not die a natural death (Gen. 5:24).  Even though we have to wait for God to call us home, our relationship with God is based on how much we love the Almighty.  Are we seeking and abiding in His will?  Are we loving with Agape Love?  not neglecting ourselves but letting our ego step aside and seeking Father’s will in all that befalls us.

So, just where is our relationship with the Lord?

Amen

3-8-2025    Not Everyone Who says ‘Lord, Lord’

                         

Matthew 7:21-24

Not everyone who unto says Me ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father which is in heaven.

When I was a young teen in church, we had evangelists come in and preach a rousing sermon on giving our lives to Jesus.  The idea is to get souls into heaven.  Get ‘saved’!  Its’s a great idea, but it’s only the first step.  For when we confess the Lord Jesus with our mouth and believe in is our heart that God has raised Him (Jesus) from the dead, we shall be saved (Rom. 10:9)!   Note the word ‘shall’.  This is true but the ‘shall’ implies that there just might be something more.  We gain access to the eternal heavenly realm but we’re not physically there yet.  It is not necessarily a ‘done deal’. 

Yes, with our confession, we died at that moment (to ourselves), through our faith, we will have eternal fellowship with Jesus in eternity.  Our sins are forgiven at the moment of confession, though we have not ritually have been baptized with water or received the Holy Ghost.  I said ’ritually’, that is according to common practice.  Think about the thief on the cross next to Jesus, “Truly I say to you, this day you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).  Here, paradise is not eternal heaven.  The Greek word paradeisos (G3857) is used in this passage and relates to a park (aka Eden) or a place of happiness.  It is derived from the Hebrew word pardec (H6508) which is a forest, park or orchard.  Had it been eternal heaven, Jesus would have said so, but nonetheless, it is a place where there is no more pain nor suffering – until we do reach that eternal existence with our Lord.  Note, the thief received paradise without ceremonial water baptism.  We do know that the thief had received Jesus into his heart because Jesus said “today, you will be with Me in paradise”.  Jesus would not have said that had the thief not believed.  We have to believe that God is (Heb. 11:6), to let Him into our hearts (1 John 4:3, 14-16).

My wife to be and I counselled with the pastor of the church we had started attending.  He had this funny idea that if Jesus wasn’t in the marriage, it was doomed to failure.  Modern Family Law states that between 40 and 50 percent of first marriages will end in divorce (https/www.modernfamilylaw.com), yet 67% of Americans profess to be Christians (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_the_United_States/). A sad state.  I confessed Jesus during that counselling session and I felt a huge burden, a huge weight, being lifted up off my body, literally.  It was spiritual and not physical, but nonetheless, the real feeling was there.

As we live in this world now, salvation (confessing Jesus) becomes our first step in growth as we continue to yield ourselves to Jesus.  Note that Jesus also said “that those who do the will of My Father shall be saved”.  The hint that there is something more than just professing Jesus Christ.

Consider that Jesus said many false prophets shall arise and their intent will be to turn us away from God’s truth (Matt. 7:15-20).  And even though some of these folks will say “Didn’t we do wonderful things in Your name?” and Jesus will reply “I never knew you, depart from me, you who work iniquity (Matt. 7:22-23)!”  These were church people, who thought they had eternity locked in!  Jesus also says that those who are told to depart, will be cast into darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt. 8:10-12Rev. 20:11-15).  Jesus also tells us that false prophets will arise, even deceiving the elect, if it were possible (Matt. 24:24).  Here ‘elect’ is the Greek word eklektos (G1588) which is favorite, chosen or elect.  God’s sons and daughters, those who truly love and follow the Lord.  Again church people who never really got to know Jesus will be subject to deception!  So Jesus never really knew them who didn’t really know Him.  Jesus is the Good Shepherd and He knows the children of God (John 10:1-5).

 Yes, there will be those, even who come into the church doing their best to draw us away from God.  We need to always be on guard.  We can recognize them by their fruits (Matt. 7:15-20).

So, the first thing we need to do is to learn how to grow in God’s love.  1 John 4:1-21 give us a pretty good picture of the bottom line of love.  As children of God, the Holy Ghost in us will help us to recognize the devil’s attacks that come our way (John 16:13).  We will truly come to realize that God is love and if we love Him, we will abide in His love.  We show this love by sharing it with those whom we encounter.  When we don’t love others, our love (and our relationship with the Lord) comes into question.  Why?  Because God IS LOVE, so our lives should be a reflection of His love (1 John 4:7-16). 

Jesus tells us that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments (John 14:15).  His commandments are one, upward move and one outward, to love Father with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and then love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:29-31).

So how do we grow in love?

We have to talk with God.  I said with, not at.  When we pray, we need to focus our attention on the Lord.  Jesus has given us a prayer that suffices our daily living:   ⁹ “This, then, is how we should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
   hallowed be your name,
¹⁰ your kingdom come,
   your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us today our daily bread.
¹² And forgive us our debts (trespasses),
    as we also have forgiven our debtors (trespassers).
¹³ And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one.  (Matt. 6:9-13)

We should go to a quiet place so we can focus on the Lord, as Jesus did in the garden (Matt. 26:36-39).  Jesus was in a place where He could pour His heart out to the Father.  Father has shown me through personal experience that He cares about the little things as well as the big.  He cares for us so much that He calls us His children (1 John 3:1).  Keep in mind the relationship between a little child and his parents.

We should always pray, with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit (Eph. 6:18).   Now, it is a huge help when the Holy Ghost abides in us.  Take note that the 12 Apostles of the Lamb believed and confessed Jesus then walked with Him for over three years.  Then, ten days after Jesus returned to the Father, they and 108 others received the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:1-16).  Paul met twelve men on the road to Ephesus who had knowledge of Jesus but were lacking.  So He baptized them in Jesus’ name and they received the Holy Ghost (Acts 19:1-7). Phillip preached Jesus in Samaria but Peter and John came up so the people could receive the Holy Ghost (Acts 8:12-17). The Spirit makes intercession for us according to the will of God for all things work together for our good and the purpose for which God has called us (Rom. 8:26-28).

To receive from the Lord, we must believe that Father will answer our prayers (Mark 11:24).  If we don’t believe that God will do something, why should He?  Remember the lame man with Peter and John at the temple, he expected them to give him something – and they did (Acts 3:1-11).  Jesus says that we should believe, then we will receive it (Matt. 21:22).

The entire bible, Genesis through Revelation, gives us more than enough examples of God’s love, so we need to learn God’s love so we can live in it.  Right?  Prayer is one way, but how do we know that what we are praying is right?  So we need to know what the bible says (His Word) so we can know as God speaks to us in the Spirit and the Spirit is in us, so He speaks to our heart (Rom. 8:26-28).

We have to renew our minds – daily.  That is read the bible every day (Rom. 12:2).  We don’t have to read a whole book, or even a chapter in a single sitting, but even just a few verses a day will help.  And as we read, ask the Holy Ghost to guide and direct us.  He is our teacher, isn’t He (John 14:26)?

Job says “l heard about You by hearing with my own ear, but now, I have seen you face to face (Job 42:5).  God considered Job a righteous man (Job: 1:8) because Job knew all about God (Job 42:5).  Yet, by the end of the book, we see that Job finally comes to understand who God really is!

So, not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” shall enter into the kingdom of God for, truly, not everyone’s heart is truly with the Lord.  We need to know and understand His Word so we can operate in His will.  There are many who halve an understanding God’s Word (the bible) says but not all actually live in His will.

Amen          

2-22-2025          Confirming souls

 

Acts 14:1-40, Acts 15:36-41

Acts 14

Paul and Barnabas went to Iconium and preached there. Unbelieving Jews stirred up the Greeks there and they would have stoned Paul, but he and Barnabas fled to Lystra and Derbe which were in the province of Lycaonia. Here, through Paul’s ministry a lame man in Lystra was healed and the people called Paul and Barnabas gods but Paul used this situation to preach Jesus.  Certain Jews came up from Antioch who caused an uproar over Paul’s teaching which resulted in the stoning of Paul.  They presumed he was dead and threw his body outside the city.  The next day, Paul stood up in the midst of the disciples and then he and Barnabas went and preached in Derbe.

There in Derbe), Paul preached the gospel and taught many and then returned to Lystra and Antioch.  There, he confirmed the souls of the disciples and exhorted them to continue in the faith with the understanding that they would experience difficulties.  Then he ordained elders in every church, prayed and fasted and commended them to the lord, on those who believed (v 22–23).

Then they went to Pamphylia via Pisidia and preached the word from Perga to Atalia.  They returned to Antioch where they shared the work which God had done and opened the door to the Gentiles.         

Acts 15:36-41

After many days, Paul said to Barnabas, “Lets go back to the cities we have been to and see how they are doing”.  There was contention about taking John Mark with them so Paul took Silas and Barnabas took Mark and they parted company. The brothers commended Paul Silas to God’s grace and they went to Syria and Cilicia confirming souls (also Acts 18:22-23).

Take note that Paul was in Corinth about a year and a half (Acts 18:11) and was in Ephesus for about two years (Acts 19:10).  In other words, he didn’t just preach and go but he spent some time in the areas he visited teaching the people and building a foundation for life.

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Paul took time to assure tht people understood as he preached and revisited those who had been converted through his ministry and assuring they had leaders to carry on the work.  Paul was concerned about their welfare so he returned to verify their love for Jesus.  Some of the churches did stray after Paul had left, even of those he revisited.  Even when he was unable to return personally, he found himself writing letters to get souls back on track.  

Ministry is not ‘just’ getting souls ‘saved’, but getting them grounded in the faith as well. 

Paul has given an example for us non-Jewish believers (Gentiles).  Paul left the people with a foundation for their belief and a structure to encourage continuing growth in faith.  Yes, structure is important, but structure without true faith is incomplete.  And that structure should assure continuing growth in the love of God.  Working with new Christians helps them develop a reasonable level of Spiritual maturity and that they are in a place where they can receive mature, Spiritual guidance for Spiritual growth from other brothers as well as the Lord. 

We are a people of faith.  We believe that our Lord Jesus has provided us the way to eternal fellowship with the Father (Rom. 10:9).  We believe that the Holy Ghost is in us (1 Corinth. 3:16).  We believe that we should abide in God’s love (1 John 4:16).  So to please God, we know that we need to learn how to abide in His love.  If we don’t believe God is, how can we abide in His love (Heb. 11:6)?  Jesus defines God’s love as “Hear (listen up!), the Lord our God is one Lord and you should love the Lord God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and the second commandment is like it “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:29-31).  The Law, the prophets and everything since then hangs on these two commandments (Matt. 22:40), from Genesis to Revelation.  These 66 books (73 if you’re Catholic) describe how God loves us and how we should love Him in return.  Many examples of good and bad are given throughout the scriptures for our benefit.  Yes, we see examples of what not to do as well as what we should be doing.

Faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26) and yet works without faith is just an empty shell (Matt. 6:1-8).  We show our faith in the Lord by doing His good works in what we say and do.  We know the cliché “actions speak louder than words”?  So, our actions and our words should always be in agreement.  There are many organizations and groups that advocate mentorship, discipleship and Spiritual growth and these are good.  They advocate learning how to walk closer with our Lord, but are these concepts working as they should in today’s churches? 

Read the scriptures and we see the terms “shall be saved” (Acts, 2:38, Rom. 10:13).  Jesus clarifies this by saying “Not everyone that says ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father (Matt. 7:21).  As we grow in God’s love, our Spiritual growth is assured which reassures (in our heart) entrance into heaven (eternal life).

Confessing Jesus as Lord and Savior is just the first step but as we abide in God’s love, the Holy Ghost confirms that we are the children of God (Rom. 8:16).  Are we listening to the Holy Ghost?  As examples for us, Paul encountered twelve men in Ephesus.  As he talked with them, he realized that they had never been baptized in the Holy Ghost and Paul laid hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost (Acts 19:1-7).  Cornelius and his household received he baptism of the Holy Ghost as Peter preached to them (Acts 10:44-48).  The Holy Ghost gives us the power to live and do what we need to do (Acts 1:8, Acts 3:12-16, Phil. 4:13). As He abides in us (John 14:16), He leads us into all truth and understanding (John 16:13).  As we continue to grow, this helps us to help others grow in the Spirit so we all can receive greater doses of God’s love and mature therein.

We help others to grow in the Lord and as we are confirmed, we grow in love and in the Spirit.  As we grow, we learn to recognize Father’s love for ourselves and move into a deeper relationship with our Lord and Savior.  Reassurance of our relationship with Father comes from the Holy Ghost and others.

Paul made effort to reconfirm souls to assure that they were on the right track and be part of God’s heavenly kingdom.  How is this being done in today’s church? 

As Paul followed Jesus, are we following his example?

Amen

 

 2-8-2025    Follow ME

 

John 21:20-22

Jesus had just challenge Peter on his love.  He also described to Peter what type of death he should suffer (John 21:15-18).  Then this happened:

Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved, the one who laid his head upon Jesus’ chest and asked who would betray Him.  Then Peter said to Jesus “”Lord, what shall this man do?”   Jesus answered “If I desire him to still be here when I return, what concern is that of yours?” 

What concern is that of ‘ours’?  Man has pride and at times, it’s is difficult to understand that someone might get something better than us.  Living our lives for Jesus is hard enough rather than to be worried about benefits another might receive.

When I was working FDA (Food and Drug Administration) in the Generic Drug’s document room OGD), as a file clerk, I became disgruntled at the different complexity of the documents I daily processed.  So I complained to the Lord.  I was also comparing myself with my three other coworkers in the document room   After all my griping, Father spoke to my heart and said “Give Me the job!”  I thought for a few seconds and then said “OK, it’s yours”.  Nothing happened, that l could tell, immediately.  But after a while I found myself ‘getting ‘into’ and truly enjoying my work.  It was no longer my problem how others were performing their duties, but I started doing my job the way intended and looking forward to the next challenge.  I was no longer considering the difficulty of a document but rather ID’d, coded and forwarded the document to the appropriate reviewers.  Then to process and file outgoing FDA letters, with the appropriate application.  I no longer was concerned about how difficult my job may be nor comparing myself with my fellow employees.  I just did my job, to the best of my ability.  It paid off!  After a few years, the position was upgraded two government grade levels.  A few years after that, we were bumped another two GS grade levels.  I moved from OGD to CDER (Center for Drug Evaluation) doc rooms which had responsibility over sixteen different drug review divisions plus OGD.  Now, my job became a liaison, training contractors to do what I had been doing in OGD. A total of 17 doc rooms and this produced another two level grade hike.  Without college education, I had received four pay hikes, which include a total of seven grade levels.  And my last two years I was promoted to a position over all the CDER doc rooms, my final pay hike.  I had moved up eight grade levels by retirement.  And I remind you, this started first by giving my job to the Lord, then not being concerned about others and how they were performing, but doing my job, always to the best of my ability.  Though I was doing tasks for the federal government, I worked for Jesus!  I was following my Savior’s example (John 13:15).  Though I had been saved for many years already, this was all a part of my beginning to truly follow Jesus.

Now let’s take a quick look at a few people whom other people have followed.

Julius Caesar (100 BC – 44 BC)  Was a great Roman general and became dictator of Rome in 49 BC, a decorated soldier and influential politician.  He was murdered, while still in office, a man took his life with a knife in 44 BC.  Yes, he had many opponents, but he also ruled the Roman Empire for five years (Wikki)! Do we think he had any followers?

Adolph Hitler (1889 - 1945)  Was the leader of the Nazi Party (1920-1921) and becoming chancellor (Kanzler) and Fuhrer of Germany from (1933-1945).  His worldview revolved around two concepts: territorial expansion and racial supremacy (Britannica).  Hitler committed suicide as Russian troops were chasing him down after the war.  Yet, do we think Hitler had a following?

Jim Jones (1931-1978)   In 1954 formed an independent Pentecostal church in Indianapolis. His format was a blend of Christianity and socialism (a blend of Marxism and Communism) referred to as apostolic socialism.  He eventually moved operations to Jonestown, Guyana (1977) where he, along with 900 people committed mass suicide via poison.  Over 900 people followed Jones into the grave.  Do you think that they followed him.

When we accept Jesus into our heart, how do we view Pastors or other preachers.  Are we able to separate the message from the messenger?  I’ve personally encountered too many people who have admired a pastor so much, they practically moved that pastor to the place of or above God.  That is to say  that if there was a discrepancy between what the pastor said and what the bible actually said – the bible was considered wrong.  Not citing specific examples, but this is something to think about.  Do we actually know who we are following?  Who actually has the final say in God’s truth?  God or man?  When a pastor becomes the ultimate of a person’s Christianity, who are people worshipping, Jesus Christ or the pastor?  It has happened.  Do we think that pastor had a following?

What about entertainers?  Actors, actresses, singers, etc., etc. Like Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Beyonce, Taylor Swift or how many other music and cinema icons are there over whom  people have gone “totally gaga”?  Have these entertainers become their idol, the one they want to be like or follow, or to even be desired by them – at all cost?  We follow them because we respect, admire or even ‘love’ them.  So do we think that people have followed them?

There are more examples, but these are not whom we are talking about.

As Christians, our desire should be to be like, or follow Jesus.

Jesus says “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).  So what are Jesus’ commandments?  One Word, two parts ‘, LOVE.  We should love Him with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and then love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31).  One might ask “What about the Ten Commandments?”  just what are the 10 Commandments (Exod. 20:3-17?  Read them.  They are a very basic description of how we can show how much we do love God.  We should never forget who He is.  Mean what we say and say what we mean when we back it up with His name.  Set time aside for Him.  Our parents have been given authority over us so we should listen to (honor) them.  We trust they are giving us the right direction.  They also tell us not to take the Lord’s name in vain, not to kill, steal, cheat on our spouse, lie or desire the things that our neighbor has in his possession.  Understand, the 10 Commandments not only have a physical understanding, they tell us ‘what to do’.  But there is also a spiritual aspect in our relationship with our heavenly Father.  How do we treat Him?  When we are tempted and make the decision to do so, we have sinned (James 1:14-15).  Even though we may not have physically done it, because we have decided to it, we have sinned in our heart and stand guilty.  For Christians, not only are our deeds counted but also are our intentions.   Our thoughts as well as our actions have to be lined up together as we follow Jesus! 

A few more quick things to consider:

Matthew chapter seven cautions us not to be too quick to judge the actions of others (Matt. 7:1-5).  Matthew goes on, but get started with these verses.  We should have compassion and be willing to give direction to those whom we encounter.  consider Jesus and the woman who was about to be stoned for adultery (John 8:4-11).  Jesus’ final words to her were “Where are your accusers?  Has no man condemned you?  Neither do I, go and sin no more.”  Jesus did not condemn the woman to death but gave her an opportunity for life.

Jesus gives us an example of how to treat people and why. Jesus said to give others food, drink, clothing, visit him when he us sick or in prison.  As we do anything for the least in the kingdom of God, we are doing it to Jesus (Matt. 25:33-40).  In the example of my job, I ended up working for Jesus, not the federal government -  even though I was still working under supervisors and in a federal building and was paid by FDA.   Need I say that Father rewarded me through that which was around me.  I could go on with even more examples but let’s finish with the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.  As these qualities are evident in us, they are evidence that we have crucified our own desires and follow the Holy Spirit (GaL. 5:22-26).  That is, we are not concerned about just pleasing ourselves but are genuinely concerned about those around us and how we can help build them up (1 Corinth. 14:1-19).   Even so, we don’t neglect ourselves.  Jude tells us to build our faith by praying in the Holy Ghost, abide in God’s love, looking forward to eternal life (v 20-21). 

Are we are reflecting the love Father has for us, to the world around us.

So, whose image do we reflect?  The world’s?  Or Jesus’?  Who do we follow? 

 

Amen

 

 

1-25-2025 Our relationship with Go

Do we really have a relationship with our heavenly Father?

In the womb, we have a relationship only with mom.  She gives us a place to live and grow.  She feeds us.  As a fetus grows, it is constantly getting messages from its mother. It's not just hearing her heartbeat, her voice and whatever music she might play near her belly; it also gets chemical signals through the placenta. A new study finds that this also includes signals about the mother's mental state (Science Daily.com).  We communicate with mom even before we are born into this world!

The first time baby ‘sees’ mom is after birth as mom holds baby in her arms.  I remember when they wheeled my wife and baby daughter out of the delivery room.  In her mother’s arms, she looked at me as if to say “whoooo are yoooou?”.  Yes, babies can sense the presence of their father while still in the womb, primarily through hearing his voice and feeling his touch on the mother's belly, with some research it is suggested that they may start recognizing dad’s voice as early as around 25-32 weeks of pregnancy.  This allows for early bonding between father and child even before birth (sorry, this is all I could find and this was this on ‘google search’).  So maybe my newborn daughter wasn’t wondering who I was but rather “Ooooh!  That’s what you look like!”

When we are new-bon Christians, all we know is that Jesus has provided us the route to eternal fellowship with the father.  Aside from man-made pictures, we still don’t know what Father or Jesus truly look like.  John tells us that we shall see Him (God) as He is (1 John 3:1-3). 

As we grow in the Lord, we come to ‘know’ who He is.  In the bible, we read about His love, how he cares for us, provides for us, gives us direction and how He communicates with us through the Holy Ghost.  On a more personal level, the Holy Ghost becomes our comforter (John 14:15-18).  He will lead us into all truth and understanding (John 16:13-15).  He will give us the power to live for Jesus (Acts 1:8) so we can take authority (in His stead) over the power of all devils and to cure all diseases (Luke 9:1).  For what more could we ask?  Of course, if/when we quench the Holy Ghost, we miss out on some these powers (1 Thess. 5:19).  Quench is the Greek word abennumi (G4570) which is to quench, put out or extinguish.  To these descriptions, Webster’s adds subdue overcome, or destroy, along with some indications which satisfy physical needs or desires (like a drink of water).  In other words, if we quench the Spirit, we don’t allow the Holy Ghost to operate within us, that is we stick Him in a cubby hole, a drawer, a closet, in the attic, basement or whatever or just turn a deaf ear to His direction.  We will miss out on what He has to offer.  We are cautioned not to grieve the Holy Ghost (Eph.4:30), which implies we have a choice to allow Him to work in our lives or not.  Grieving makes Him sad.  Being sorrowful that we prohibit what He can do for us, in us and through us.  And He is our assurance of our eternity (Rom. 8:14-17).  Allowing the Holy Ghost freedom to operate in our lives, gives us the opportunity, not just the ability, to grow in our relationship with the Lord. 

As we grow as children, dad and mom give us a place to live, feed us and take care of us until we are able to ‘fend’ for ourselves (sound like pregnancy?).  They give us direction to help us live a reasonably decent and respectful life (love our neighbor as ourselves – Lev. 19:18, Mark 12:30-31).  As the ‘head honcho (figure) dad should be responsible for teaching us about and abiding in God’s love.  Mom should be backing dad up and picking up the slack when dad’s not around (ideally).  Dad should also be teaching us to gain and maintain our relationship with our heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Again, they give us guidance for living this life in this world.  Doesn’t God do the same (read the bible)?  There should also be encouragement to read the scriptures for ourselves, not relying on ‘just’ what we learn from ‘man’ though all the input should be helping us to develop a healthy communication link with our heavenly Father.  That means direction on praising God, setting our petitions before our Lord and just having a loving Father to child talk – “what a lovely day today is.  How about You, Lord ? (Yes we need to listen to hear from Father), thank you Father”, etc.  Yes, a conversation as you might have with your best friend.  Yes, communication is a two-way undertaking. Becoming an adult is a huge responsibility in our relationship with our heavenly Father and that responsibility carries over to us as we become parents.  The parent-child relationship is an indication of our relationship with Father.    

However, we have to let Jesus into our heart first, then we learn how to live in, with and for Him as well as communicate with Him.  It doesn’t happen automatically.  Why?  Roughly, only about 1/3 of the world population claims to be Christian (statista.com) and wikkipedia tells us that about 65% of adults in the U.S. identify as Christian.  Webster says that ‘identify’ means to cause or to become identical, conceive as united (with), associate with some interest or to be or become the same.  Do we mirror Father’s image?  Bear in mind that there are those who have come into the church (unfortunately) which look like the real deal but may not be (Jude 1:4).  So we have to pass on what we learn.  We also need to test the spirit to assure whether that person (or issue) is of God or not (1 John 4:1-3) and that includes our reading matter.  We need proper direction for our lives so we need to make sure of what or who we listen to or see to get the proper Spiritual nutrition.  Amen?

As I said, dad and mom help us to be who we become in this world.  That means good direction, bad direction or no direction at all.  So through our relationship with dad and mom, in part, we become who we are as an adult. 

Now, I’m not saying that outside influences don’t or won’t affect us.  We are individuals who can learn so what we see, read or hear does have an impact on us, but I am saying we make our own choices. Yet, as we have a ‘solid foundation’ installed in our childhood, we can learn to grow from those good things which come our way and reject that which is detrimental.  When dad and mom give us that solid foundation, we not only develop a good relationship with them, but also come to understand the relationship we should have with our heavenly Father. And this relational experience should spill over into the church or fellowship we attend.  Yes, we have to learn from the world around us, but prefer Godly input.

Did we feel free to talk openly with dad and mom?  Did they comfort us when we hurt (feelings or physical)?  Did we seek their advice or direction on things we didn’t understand (Matt. 7:7-8)?  When we spoke to them, did they listen (1 Peter 3:12)?  Did we socialize with dad and mom, that is play games, relax in the backyard, take vacations, etc. (Psalm 23:1-6)?  How well did we communicate with our parents?  Or did we did we communicate with them at all (Prov. 15:8)?  Have we ever thanked our parents for all they had done for us (Phil. 4:6-7)?  Or did we say to ourselves “They just don’t understand me!”  When we ‘messed up’, did our parents reprimand (punish) us (2 Sam. 7:13-15, Eph. 6:4, Col.3:21)?  Somewhere along the line, we should have said ‘I’m sorry I did that’ (repent) whatever we have done.  But did all our parents do was continually remind us of how ‘bad’ we were? Or did they show us forgiveness for our misdeed (1 John 1:9-10)?  Just don’t do it again (John 8:11)!  We need to ask.  Father forgives us of any sin we may have committed and yes, we should intend not do repeat our error (Acts 3:19).  God then sets that sin behind His back (Isa. 38:17) and that sin slides into the sea of forgetfulness (Micah 7:19), God no longer remembers our sin!  Neither should we.

Father created us to be communal beings (Gen. 2:18, Heb. 10:25).  That is we need others around us so we can connect and communicate, in a positive fashion (Eph. 4:29), with someone other than ourselves.  Not to be alone or lonely.  We do need ‘alone time’, maybe to collect our  thoughts or be with the Lord, but not alone all the time. Father gave Eve to Adam, not just so they could have children, but that Adam would have a companion as well,  that is someone to communicate with, on his level.  Share this life with (Gen. 2:20-23).  Yet, maintain communication with our Lord?  Isn’t the same true for us?

When we don’t communicate, how can we develop a relationship with anyone, much less God? 

So now, we ask ourselves “How do I communicate with my Lord?  Do I have a relationship with the Creator of all things?”

Stanford University says: Positive human connection plays an important role in maintaining our emotional-physical health, well-being, and growth. Whether it be with friends, peers, or a significant other, relationships often allow us to forge deep and meaningful bonds that can result in a sense of purpose, great joy, and satisfaction (https://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/)

Several sources imply that a good relationship is characterized by qualities like mutual respect, open communication, trust, honesty, empathy, commitment, individual growth support, shared values, the ability to compromise, and healthy boundaries, where all feel valued and empowered within the relationship. 

The Apostle Paul tells the Corinthians to do that which edifies so we can grow (1 Thess. 5:11, 1 Corinth. 14:26-40).  In other words, say and do those things which, instead of tearing down, others are building them up so they are encouraged by what we say and do.   And that even means bringing them back onto the ‘straight and narrow (Matt. 7:13-14) they have strayed, but whatever we do, do always in love (1 Corinth. 16:13-14).

So, just where is our relationship with God?  Do we even have a true relationship with Him?  Are we basking in His love enjoying the confidence that we are on the right track?  As my relationship with the Lord improves, my relationship with those around me also gets better.

My relationship with the Lord has grown over the years.  In the beginning I prayed and read the bible AND I went to church (for more input).  I thought I was doing pretty good.  Then Father baptized me in the Holy Ghost.  A whole new world started to open up for me!  I was reading the scriptures with more understanding and I was learning better to pray on my own, with others and with my heavenly Father.  As my relationship improved (over the years) and as I drew closer to the Lord, not was I just seeing truths in the bible, Father was showing me the depth of the meaning of those words I was reading.  Father has helped me write many ‘song-poems’ about our relationship and as I sing them back to Father, the Holy Ghost rises up within me.  Anymore, as I am singing I get “weak in the knees and shivers if you please” (as one of the songs says).  This has also spilled over into church services where I get the same feeling singing most of the songs we sing in the church, which I attend.  This also happens also during bible studies (whether I’m teaching or some else is) and even as the Pastor presents the Word in our fellowship, I get weak in the knees and shivers, if you please.  It’s awesome!  There are benefits in walking with our Lord.

Through prayer, reading my bible and interaction with other Christians, I learn who God really is and what my relationship should be.  I remember Job.  Early in life, both natural and Spiritual.  I’ve come to realize that in my life, I knew about God, but as I grow, I am coming to know WHO God truly is.  Job knew who God was, but then he saw Him ‘face to face! (Job 42:5).  He came to truly know Him!

As I said, there are many benefits to having good interpersonal relationships in the natural as well as the Spiritual and that increases many times over, as we strengthen our relationship with our growth in our heavenly Father.

So, just where is our relationship with YAWEH, I AM, the Lord God Almighty, the Everlasting King, my Savior?   

Amen