Tag: Holy Spirit

Putting It All Together!

These words are very meaningful to me.

Why?

When I think back over the past 8 years, writing posts began with a ‘placard’ I saw on a news program held by a young woman that read ‘be ungoverned’.

Here, I am, here we are, in 2025, and the emphasis of the latest posts is that the Church needs to be ‘governed’ by the Holy Spirit, individually and corporately.

All around us, the world is reeling struggling with asserting to ‘be ungoverned’.

There have been a lot of words, a lot of subject matter, written about ‘politics’ concerning the state of our nation and how it is governed and the well-being of our citizenry as a voting entity.

The onslaught of the divisive verbal rhetoric that we as a nation has been exposed too, especially in the past 10 years, has been divisive and has led to a nation clamoring over how to be governed.

Previous posts speak for themselves.

Not everyone will agree with what has been written, but that is ok.

Unfortunately, the divisive verbal rhetoric continues.

But, over the past year or more, there has been an uncovering of what was verbalized in ‘darkness’ is now being brought to the ‘light’.

Verbal rhetoric that has been hailed as ’empirical truth’ has been shown in many instances to be the fabrication of lies spoken to advance a political agenda.

If you are interested in reading more of what I am referring too, I encourage you to read previous posts.

Now, I will move forward, Putting It All Together.

The last post was entitled The Lord Jesus Christ is Glorified!

Let me set the context for The Lord Jesus Christ’s P.H.D., Part 2

If we are going to understand The Lord Jesus Christ’s P.H.D. Part 2, we must look into eternity past before the creation of the Lord.

The mystery of God.

The only reason we have any knowledge of God is because God has revealed Himself.

That is not a new profound thought; but it is absolute truth.

God’s revelation of Himself is in His P.H.D.

The Old Testament is replete with beginnings.

Genesis is a book of beginnings.

The beginnings in Genesis put into motion what unfolds throughout the Old Testament and throughout the New Testament.

The God of both testaments is the same. (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8)

God’s P.H.D. is His Prophetic. Historical. Document.

God’s Prophetic, Historical, Document is the Word of God.

The Word of God is the Son of God, the Second Person of the Trinity.

The knowledge of God was originally passed down by sharing verbally.

This is called oral tradition.

At an appointed time in the history of mankind, that oral tradition began to be written down.

That writing recorded God’s beginnings with creation; His interaction with mankind; the choosing of one man to father a nation to be His people; the history of His people; His covenants made with His people; the rise of nations; the institution of kings; significant ups and downs within His own personal nation; His nation’s rise and fall; God’s love for His people; God’s use of prophets to be His spokesmen (mouth piece) to call His people back to Himself.

The substance of this history is found reading the Old Testament in the Word of God.

And throughout all this prophetic, historical, documentary, there is what theologians have called a ‘scarlet thread’-a promised person who would come and make right what went wrong in the beginning as recorded in Genesis. (See Genesis 3:15; Go to Got Questions: What is the significance of a scarlet thread?)

Throughout the Word of God, there is a continual, unveiling of God-a triune God-God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.

The Word of God represents the account of this triune God interacting with each other before the foundation for the world, purposing the creation, that included the creation of mankind, created in the image and likeness of God completely different from angelic beings, and the other animal life created during the days of creation.

Being repetitive, the Word of God provides the substance of God’s P.H.D. .

The Word of God is God’s written account of Himself for us to read, understand, and to personally experience the reality of God’s intent that was purposed in the Godhead before the creation of the world.

At this time, I encourage you to stop, and read Ephesians 1:3-14.

This passage of scripture encapsulates for us an incredible word picture of the intent of the Godhead that was residing in God, the Father’s heart; the purpose and plan of God; the Son’s coming out of eternity and into the existence of time that He, Himself, created; and the work of God the Holy Spirit in the creation process; and the plan of redemption.

Again at this time, I recommend that you consider reading or re-reading The Lord Jesus Christ’s P.H.D., Part 1.

Quoting from The Lord Jesus Christ’s P.H.D. Part 1,

“God’s P.H.D. is the written Word of God that has revealed to us God’s purpose that was in His heart before the foundation of the world…The written Word of God is the Father’s Prophetic. Historical. Document, authenticating the Son of God, (who is) the Second Person of the Trinity…God’s P.H.D. chronicles the Life of Christ, Jesus-Son of God/Son of Man; incarnated in a human body by the Holy Spirit; born of a virgin; perfectly fulfilling His Father’s P.H.D.as recorded in the Word of God; and completely doing His Father’s will ‘orderly’ and ‘obediently’ without sinning. (See Philippians 1:1-2:11 for context) [emphasis mine].”

We now turn to the New Testament account of the continued revelation purposed in eternity past before the foundation of the world.

Fast forward, from Incarnation to Manhood and then to ministry.

The life of Jesus, the Son of God/Son of Man was ‘governed’ by the Third Person of the Trinity, Holy Spirit. (See Matthew 3:1-4:11)

Jesus comes to the Jordan river, where John the Baptist, is preaching repentance from a sinful lifestyle; and water baptizing those who respond to his preaching.

As John is fulfilling God’s appointed ministry, Jesus approaches and seeks to be water baptized. Matthew 3:13-17 NKJV says, “Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for this it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.””

In the sequence of events, what has taken place, is the interaction of the foreordained ministry of John the Baptist (see Luke 1:39-45; Luke 1:57-80; Luke 3:1-7, 18,21-22), the arrival of Jesus, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world(John 1:29); Jesus’ water baptism; the voice out of heaven of God, the Father’s affirmation of His Son; and the coming down out of heaven of the Holy Spirit that descended upon Him.

Coming up out of this muddy river, that has just witnessed the relational family of God, the Father; God the Son in human flesh; and God the Holy Spirit, Jesus, Son of God/Son of Man (Matthew 4:1 NKJV) “was led up by the (Holy) Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” (insert mine)

Why?

It is all part of the incredible plan of redemption. (See the Post-The Time to Continue)

All of the above is an introduction to reset the scene to continue The Lord Jesus Christ’s P.H.D. Part 2.

What has been written as God’s Prophetic, Historic, Document – the Word of God: Jesus, Son of God/Son of Man is now going to live out in human flesh.

This lifestyle is going to be transferred to the Body of Christ, the Church, that was began on the Day of Pentecost when “…suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they(the disciples) were sitting. Then there appeared to them(the disciples) divided tongues, as of a fire, and one sat upon each of them(the disciples). And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the (Holy) Spirit gave them utterance. [Acts 2:2-4, NKJV] (inserts mine).

Instead of making this post twice as long, I will stop here.

thank you for your patience,

your brother in Christ,

blessings, deo

tbc: The Lord Jesus Christ’s P.H.D. Part 2.

Pentecost-50 days After Passover, Part 2

In Part 1 of this post, we were focused upon the Passover Meal celebrated by Christ and His disciples in an Upper Room during the Feast of Unleavened Bread in which the Jewish nation remembered their deliverance from the land of Egypt when the blood of a lamb was applied to the doorposts of their homes.

John 16:28-33 are the closing words of Jesus to His disciples. He says to them, “I have come from the Father and come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father. His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly to us and not in figures of speech! Now we know that You know all things, and have not need for anyone to question You; because of this we believe [without any doubt] that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you now [at last] believe? Take careful notice: an hour is coming, and has arrived, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, leaving Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you will have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.] {Amplified Version}

Jesus closes the Upper Room discourse with a prayer (John 17) to His Father.

This prayer is referred to, as His ‘High Priestly Prayer’.

I recommend that you read John 17.

Having considered all of this, is there something that stands out as being more important than the coming of the Holy Spirit?

END OF PART 1.

_______________________________________________

50 days after Jesus’ resurrection, Jerusalem is celebrating Pentecost.

PART 2.

During the forty days between Christ’s resurrection and His ascension back to the presence of His Father, Christ revealed Himself to His followers.

On the morning of His resurrection, “…after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdelene and the other Mary, came to see the tomb. {Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-10; John 20:1-8} And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.”…”the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold I have told you. So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to bring His disciples word. And as they went to tell His disciples, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.” (Matthew 28:1-10 NKJV) {insert mine}

We are witnessing the fulfillment of the Upper Room discourse unfold and take place just as Jesus said.

The Apostle Paul recounts these events in I Corinthians 15:1-8, NKJV.

“Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you-unless you have believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas (Peter), then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over 500 brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.” (insert mine)

Luke, writing his treatise about the life of Christ shares in Acts 1:1-3 NKJV,

“The former account account I made, O Theophilus, all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.”

Luke has written about Jesus Christ the Lamb of God, who took away the sin of the world (John 1:29); justified the wrath of God (Romans 5:6-11); conquered death, hell, and the grave (I Corinthians 15:55-57; Revelation 1:18); dethroned Satan of his authority (Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:14-15;) and has accomplished a total victory through His death on the Cross.

For forty days, Jesus has been interacting with His disciples; and now the day has come for His departure back to His Father.

Luke writes, Acts 1:4-11 NKJV,

“And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken away up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

Jesus ascended into heaven.

Now what?

Do what He had commanded them to do?

Acts 1:4, Do not depart from Jerusalem; wait for the Promise of the Father; “which He said, “you have heard from Me.”

Acts 1:5, “for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

I wonder if they pondered what that meant?

Is the coming of the Holy Spirit important?

Absolutely.

However, there is something else taking place that preempts its importance.

What can be more important than the coming of the Holy Spirit?

Let’s find out.

Jesus is ‘prepping’ them for the Day of Pentecost reminding them of what He had shared with them.

Acts 1:12,13a, 14- NKJV, “Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey (less than one mile). And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying”…”These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.” (insert mine) (boldness mine)

Acts 1:15-26 records the events that took place from the day of Christ’s ascension to the Day of Pentecost.

Some noteworthy thoughts.

Vs 15-Peter (petros*) stood up in the midst of the assembled disciples that numbered around 120.

Vs 16-Peter (petros*) addressed them, regarding the fulfillment of the Scripture that was previously spoken by the Holy Spirit through David regarding Judas Iscariot’s betrayal of Jesus.

Vs 21-Peter (petros*) told those in the upper room that it is necessary to fulfill the Scripture found in Psalms [Psalms 69:25; 109:8] to choose another to fill Judas’ vacancy.

Vss 21,22-give to us the qualifications for the persons to be considered. The timeline begins with the baptism of John and concludes with the ascension of Christ.

Vss 23-26, two people are chosen; they pray to the Lord for guidance; and in vs 26, they cast lots. This way of making the selection is not wrong. It was a common method used in the Old Testament.

What is the significance of including this?

There is a new ‘governing’ coming.

The Old Covenant has come to an end; and there is a New Covenant.

Something new is about to happen.

In an upper room, things are in ‘order’; the disciples have been ‘obedient’; and the Day of Pentecost has arrived.

In an upper room, “…they were all with one accord in one place” (Acts 2:1)

They were where Jesus had commanded them to be; and there was ‘order’ and there was ‘obedience’.

These two words are critical for a healthy Church, the Body of Christ.

‘order’ and ‘obedience’ allows the God’s Kingdom to come and God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)

Jesus lived His earthly life in a human body governed by the Holy Spirit carrying out whatever His Father asked Him to do. That is ‘order’; and He did it with perfect ‘obedience’.

Wherever Jesus went His Father’s Kingdom came and His Father’s will was done on earth just as it is in heaven.

In God’s Presence, everything is about ‘order’ and ‘obedience’.

This is not legalism; this is the Essence of Who God is.

Reflect upon these words, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15)

His commandments are His ‘order’; keeping them is our ‘obedience’; our reason for doing so is because we love Him.

Q: Where did Jesus say these words?

A: In the Upper Room to His disciples at the Passover Meal.

Acts 2:2 NKJV, “And suddenly”, the words that Jesus shared with His disciples in the Upper Room, when they were celebrating the Passover Meal, are fulfilled in an upper room on the Day of Pentecost.

{Note: All of this happened, most likely, in the same Upper Room where the disciples waited for the Promise of the Father, in the city of Jerusalem.}

Being redundant.

The words regarding the coming of the Holy Spirit are fulfilled.

The promise of the Father has come in the Person of the Holy Spirit.

The words spoken by John the Baptist have been fulfilled.

John the Baptist said that Jesus is the baptizer in/with the Holy Spirit.

Again, I would like to encourage you to set aside your doctrinal teaching surrounding what took place on the Day of Pentecost, and continue with me as I proceed.

On the day of Pentecost, after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Peter stood up with the other eleven and explained what was taking place to those assembled. (Acts 2:14-36)

Peter told them that what they had seen and heard had been prophesied by the prophet Joel.

Acts 2:17-21 NKJV,

Peter said, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My servants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy. I will show wonders in heaven about and signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.”

Q: In the above passage, what is ultimately most important?

A: “whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”

The Holy Spirit has come.

Q: What do you associate with the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost?

Q: What have you been taught?

Q: What has been the emphasis of the teaching that you have received?

Q: Are you comfortable with Pentecostalism? Charismatics? Spirit-filled believers?

Q: Are you doctrinally a ‘cessationist’ or a ‘continuationist’?

(Big words but important regarding the coming of the Holy Spirit and His ministry in the Church.)

I want to make a bold statement.

There is a lot of teaching, division, and misunderstanding regarding the purpose and work of the Third Person of the Trinity in the church today.

Please understand my heart.

I want to challenge you with a thought that I am understanding to be more significant and more important than all of the teaching surrounding the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Do I believe in the importance of the Holy Spirit?

Absolutely.

I am not a cessationist; but a continuationist.

Setting aside my theology…

All theology, belief, and personal experience,regarding the Person of the Holy Spirit is extremely important.

However all of our objective and subjective understanding of the truth that is taught in the Word of God regarding the Holy Spirit, is secondary, I believe, to this truth.

What truth is that, you ask?

Let us read carefully Peter’s closing words on the Day of Pentecost.

Acts 2:32-36 Amplified Version

“God raised this Jesus [bodily from the dead], and of that [fact] we are all witnesses. Therefore, having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured out this [blessing] which you both see and hear. For David did not ascend into the heavens, yet he himself says, “The Lord [the Father] said to my Lord [the Son], sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” [Psalms 110:1] Therefore let all the house of Israel recognize beyond all doubt that God has made Him both Lord and Christ (Messiah, Annointed)–that Jesus whom you crucified.

Peter said that God (the Father) has made Him (Jesus) both Lord and Christ–this very Jesus who you crucified. (inserts mine)

Peter declared that Jesus, who was crucified has been made by God, both Lord and Christ.

My question was, Is there something that stands out as being more important than the coming of the Holy Spirit?

The answer is yes, Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified, is both Lord and Christ.

The Head of the Body of Christ is the Lord Jesus Christ. (See Ephesians 1:18-23; Colossians 1:13-20; Ephesians 5:17-33; I Corinthians 12:12-14)

It is important to understand Christ as the Head of the Church.

Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, is the One who said, I will build My Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18)

Ephesians 1:22, everything is put in ‘subjection’ to Christ’s Headship. (emphasis mine)

Colossians 1:17-18, Christ existed before all things, and in Him all things are held together; Christ is the Head, the [life-source and leader] of the body, the Church; and He is the beginning the firstborn from the dead... (emphasis mine)

Ephesians 5:21, be “subject to one another out of reverence for Christ”; verses 22-33 discuss the living out of being ‘subject’ to one another.

I Corinthians 12:12-14, we are all members of the Body of Christ.

Verse 12, says “For just as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts, though many for [only] one body so it is with Christ.”

It is interesting to note, that when Paul talks about the Body of Christ, and each of us having our unique placement in the Body, there is no mention of any of us being the Head.

Why?

Christ is the Head.

In order for the Body of Christ, and each of us, as members in particular, to function properly we must be submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

In order for the Church to be an authentic representation of Jesus Christ, the Body of Christ, here on earth, the members of the Body must be submitted to the Head of the Body, the Lordship of Jesus Christ; then the Body of Christ will be ‘governed’ by the Holy Spirit, walking after the Spirit and not after the flesh.

In order to be ‘governed’ by the Holy Spirit, as a believer in Jesus Christ, you personally must be submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in your life.

Everything that surrounds the coming of the Holy Spirit; and everything that the Lord Jesus Christ wants to accomplish through the members of His Body will only take place orderly and obediently if the members of the Body, believers in Jesus Christ are submitted to Him and governed by the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost has come.

On the church calendar, Pentecost is remembered 50 days after celebrating the resurrection of Christ.

Q: Is the Body of Christ, the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ submitted to Christ, as the Head of the Church, committed to living according to His Lordship ‘orderly’ and ‘obediently’, manifesting His life, governed by the Third Person of the Trinity, Holy Spirit?

Or is the Church not fulfilling living the life of the Body of Christ that it should be because it is not submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ; and therefore not governed by the Holy Spirit?

Strong questions, but they need to be asked.

The Church began proclaiming the Lordship of Jesus Christ, submitted to Him, ‘governed’ by the Holy Spirit, fulfilling what the Spirit of God, living in ‘order‘ and ‘obedience‘.

Acts 2:40-47 shows us the first fruits of that ‘order’ and ‘obedience’.

Is this lifestyle still happening today?

If the Church is not living in ‘order’ and ‘obedience’, then the Church is not being ‘governed’ by the Holy Spirit.

If the Church is not being ‘governed’ by the Holy Spirit, then it is not submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Therefore, If the Church is not living in ‘order’ and ‘obedience’, then it is not submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Strong words, but, are they true? (Transitive Property of Congruence)

The Church only functions properly when it is ‘governed’ by the Holy Spirit.

{Q: Why did Paul write letters to the churches that he had founded? They had departed from the Lordship of Jesus Christ; they were embracing another gospel; they were focused on the wisdom of the world; they had left their foundation of ‘Christ crucified’; in short, they were not following the Lord in ‘order’ and ‘obedience’; therefore, they were not ‘governed’ by the Holy Spirit but governed according to the wisdom of the world; the words of false teachers; and the whims of their own souls. They were not submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ-yet they were Christians; those who had called upon the name of the Lord and were saved. Paul wrote the letters to the Churches so that they would come into doctrinal alignment , and ‘for reproof’, ‘for correction’, and ‘for instruction in righteousness’. (2 Timothy 3:16)}

The Holy Spirit ‘governs‘ those that are ‘submitted‘ to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

I want to close returning to Matthew 16:13-18.

Jesus said that He would build His Church upon the confession of faith(petra-immovable rock) that was spoken by Peter(petros-small stone).

What was Peter’s(petros) confession of faith(petra)?

Matthew 16:16, Peter (petra) said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Those words are the ‘petra’(the solid rock) upon which Christ will build His Church.

Go back and reread Acts 2:32-36, what is the ‘petra’ of Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost?

What did Peter communicate under the anointing of the Holy Spirit?

Peter’s ‘petra’ was ,“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” (NKJV)

What is the Godhead doing on the Day of Pentecost?

The coming of the Holy Spirit got everyone’s attention.

B.U.T. (Believers Understand This) the centrality of the message is Jesus, and Him crucified, who God made both Lord and Christ.

In Matthew 16, Jesus responding to Peter’s confession of faith, told Him that flesh and blood had not revealed what he said to him, but that it was God the Father. I believe that revelation came by the Holy Spirit.

On the Day of Pentecost, Peter stood, filled with the Holy Spirit, the promise of the Father, and preached the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Acts 2:37-39 records the response of those that heard the anointed words of Peter.

“Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said to them. “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” (NKJV)

Acts 2:40-47 tells us what happened and how the Church was birthed into existence on the Day of Pentecost under the Lordship of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the Body of Christ, ‘governed‘ by the Holy Spirit.

This is a time when believers in the Lord Jesus Christ need to examine themselves and see if they are in the faith.(2 Corinthians 13:5)

Strong words: I want to encourage you as a believer to examine yourself.

I am not questioning your salvation.

I am asking you to stop and ask yourself, does my life reflect the Lordship of Jesus Christ?

Am I seeking to live in ‘order’ and ‘obedience’ to the Word of God?

Am I ‘governed’ by the Holy Spirit?

Or am I doing my own thing, saved, waiting to go to heaven?

Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:24-26, NKJV)

This challenge follows Christ’s interaction with His disciples asking them what men are saying about who He is?

Peter said that Jesus was the “Christ, the Son of the Living God.

Jesus’ response to Peter’s words was that upon this confession He would build His Church.

In effect, Jesus’ words to deny oneself, take up your cross and follow Me , is His ‘order’ that requires your ‘obedience’ if you want to be His disciple.

The follower of Christ, who responds ‘obediently’ to His ‘order’ acknowledges the ‘Lordship‘ of Jesus Christ, and will be ‘governed’ by the Holy Spirit.

That disciple will learn to walk by the Spirit and not fulfill the desires of the flesh.

That disciple will experience ‘God’s Kingdom come’, and ‘God’s will be done’ in their life on earth as it is in heaven.

Impossible?

No, that is what it means to be conformed to the image of Christ.

This is the life that the Apostle Paul, saw before him, cried out for, and pressed forward to obtain (Philippians 3), and wrote letters to the churches he had founded to focus their attention upon; specifically ‘Christ crucified’, the Lordship of Jesus Christ and to be ‘governed’ by the Holy Spirit.

The hour in which we are living necessitates our diligence to focus on the Lord, to study His Word, and to walk in the Spirit.

This comes from submitting to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, being ‘governed’ by the Holy Spirit, learning to walk after the Spirit ‘orderly’ and ‘obediently’.

Be blessed in your walk with the Lord, a brother in Christ, deo

Pentecost-50 days After Passover, Part 1

June 8, 2025 on the Church calendar was Pentecost Sunday.

In the Old Testament, the Feast of Pentecost was the second of three feasts established by God that the nation of Israel would observe annually.

Exodus 23:14-17 (Amplified Version), “Three times a year you shall celebrate a feast [dedicated] to Me. You shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the appointed time in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt. No one shall appear before Me empty-handed [but you shall bring sacrificial offerings]. Also [you shall observe] the Feast of Harvest [Weeks, Pentecost, or First Fruits}, acknowledging the first fruits of your labor, or what you sow in the field. And [third] the Feast of Ingathering [Booths or Tabernacles] at the end of the year when you gather in [the fruit of] your labors from the field. Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord GOD.”

The first feast is to remember the Lord’s Passover when “…I [the Lord] will pass through the land of Egypt {Exodus 12:12,13} on this night, and will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and animal; against all the god’s of Egypt I will execute judgments [exhibiting their worthlessness]. I am the LORD. The blood shall be a sign for you on[the doorposts of] the houses where you live; when I see the blood I shall pass over you, and no affliction shall happen to you when I strike the land of Egypt. [I Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 11:8]” (Amplified Version) {insert mine}

The remembrance of Passover (the feast of Unleavend Bread) is a foreshadowing of the Cross of Christ; where the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ (God’s Passover Lamb), shed His blood for the sin of the world. (John 1:29) (inserts mine)

Let us read the testimony of John the Baptist written by the Apostle John.

“The next day he (John the Baptist) saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! [Exodus 12:3, Isaiah 53:7] “This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I and priority over me, for He existed before me.’ I did not recognize Him [as the Messiah]; but I came baptizing in water so that He would be publicly revealed to Israel.” John gave [further ] evidence [testifying officially for the record, with validity and relevance], saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. [Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:22,23] I did not recognize Him [as the Messiah], but He (God) who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this One is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ “I myself have [actually] seen [that happen], and my testimony is that this is the Son of God!” ” {John 1:29-34 Amplified Version} (insert mine)

Prior to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, Jesus met in an Upper Room to celebrate the Passover Feast with His disciples.

Can we even begin to understand the magnitude of the internal conflict in Jesus that is pulsating through every fiber of His being?

The outworking of that internal struggle affecting His body,soul, and spirit was manifested in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before His arrest, trial, and crucifixion. (Matthew 26:36-46)

Recounting the events of Jesus’ life, we know that His internal unrest had been increasing in intensity since He set ‘His face’ toward Jerusalem (Luke 9:51) to participate in the Feast of Passover, and die on the cross.

Jesus knew why He had come incarnated to earth and took upon Himself a human body.

Jesus celebrates His last Passover meal with His disciples in an Upper Room of someone’s household.

In the Upper Room, Jesus tells His disciples that His time to ‘leave’ has come.

‘leave’, what is He talking about?

The disciples are unable to grasp what this means.

In His discourse with them, Jesus shares that even though He is personally leaving He will not leave them alone.

This, too, are difficult words for them to comprehend.

Things are becoming ‘muddled’.

The context of what Christ is sharing and what transpires in the Upper Room is recorded in John 13:1-16, followed by prayer to His Father in chapter 17.

The Upper Room account in the Gospel of John plus what is recorded in the Synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke gives us an understanding of what took place between Christ and His disciples during their celebration of the Passover Meal.

In the Upper Room (Gospel of John), one of the many important moments between Jesus and His disciples centers on the following question.

Q: What is the importance of Jesus repeatedly assuring them about the coming of the Third Person of the Trinity, Holy Spirit?

Remembering what John the Baptist had said, “He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.” (John 1:33, NKJV)

Q:Who is John the Baptist referring to?

A: Jesus.

Jesus, the Lamb of God ,who takes away the sin of the world is recognized as the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.

At this time I am asking you to lay aside your doctrinal positions regarding Jesus and the baptism in/with the Holy Spirit.

I want us to focus on this?

What is Jesus’ purpose for telling His disciples that the Holy Spirit is coming?

or,

Why is it important for us to understand the importance of Jesus telling His disciples that the Holy Spirit will be coming ? (emphasis mine)

It unlocks the meaning of Jesus’ words to Peter after his confession of faith in Christ.

{This will be the emphasis of Part 2 of this post.}

The context of Peter’s confession of faith is found in Matthew 16:13-28.

Reading, Matthew 16:13-18…20-23 Amplified Version:

“Now when Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is? “[Mark 8:27-29; Luke 9:18-20] And they answered, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah, or [just] one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), the Son of the living God.” Then Jesus answered him, “Blessed [happy, spiritually secure, favored by God] are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood (mortal man) did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I say to you that you are *Peter, and on this rock** I will build My Church; and the gates of Hades (death) will not overpower it [by preventing the resurrection of the Christ]. [Ephesians 1:22; 4:15; 5:23; Colossians 1:18]…Then He gave the disciples strict orders to tell no one that He was the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) {emphasis mine}

{*Gr petros, a small or detached stone. **Gr petra, bedrock or a huge rock. Jesus uses a simple play on the Greek words petros and petra in this verse.}

Please follow along with me.

Understanding the coming of the Holy Spirit is critical to the continuation of the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ following His crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension back to His Father.

At this moment in the Upper Room, Jesus’ words, regarding the coming of the Holy Spirit, will assuage (ease) the disciples’ experience of being separated from Him.

What did Jesus tell His disciples regarding the coming of the Holy Spirit?

In the Gospel of John (Chapters 14,15,16) there are three main discourses spoken by Jesus. (insert mine)

{The following passages are from the Amplified Version, unless so noted.}

Please read the account in John 14.

Chapter 14 is divided into three sections: John 14:1-6 is entitled “Jesus Comforts His Disciples”; John 14:7-15 is entitled “Jesus’ Oneness with the Father”; John 14:16-28 is entitled “Role of the Spirit”.

The sequence is progressive.

First of all, Jesus, knowing their present and future emotional state; comforts them; telling them where He is going; and assuring them that one day, they, too, will be with Him in the Presence of the Father.

Second, He explains to them the Oneness between Himself and His Father. He forthrightly says, I am so ‘One’ with the Father that if you have seen Me, you have seen the Father.(Matthew 14:9) They didn’t know how to process that thought. (insert mine)

That Oneness is beyond us too! {See Hebrews 1:1-4}

Third, He focuses their attention on His care for them; telling them that He, Himself, will ask His Father, to send a Helper for them, since He is leaving them. He reiterates that the Helper is the Holy Spirit.

It is here that He explains the ‘Role of the Spirit’.

Jesus says in verse 16-19…26; “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate,Intercessor-Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever–the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive [and take to its heart] because it does not see Him or know Him because He(the Holy Spirit) remains with you continually and will be in you. “I will not leave you as orphans[comfortless, bereaved, and helpless]; I will come back to you. After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also….But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor–Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in my place, to represent Me,and act on My behalf, He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you. [Matthew 5:7, 13, 24,25; Luke 24:59; John 14:16; Acts 1:4] {emphasis mine}

{Did you see the interaction between the Trinity, the Godhead?}

Please read the second account in John 15

This sequence is progressive.

Chapter 15 is divided into three sections: John 15:1-11 is entitled, “Jesus is the Vine-Followers are Branches”; John 15:12-17 is entitled, “Disciples’ Relation to Each Other”; John 15:18-27 is entitled, “Disciples’ Relation to the World”.

First, the disciples are told about their relationship with Him as a vine and branch.

Jesus is the Vine; we are the branches.

Second, the disciples are told what Jesus expects from them as His disciples. Verse 17 says, “This [is what] I command you: that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another.”

Third, the disciples are told what to expect from the world as followers of Him.

In this section, Jesus assures them again about the Holy Spirit and His role in their lives.

John 15:23-27 says, “The one who hates Me also hates the Father {remember John 14:7-15, Jesus told His disciples about His Oneness with the Father}. If I had not done the works (attesting miracles) which no one else [ever] did, they would not have [the guilt of their sin]; but now [the fact is that ] they have both seen [these works] and have hated Me [and continue to hate Me and My Father as well. But [this is so] that the word which has been written in their Law would be fulfilled, ‘THEY HATED ME WITHOUT A CAUSE.’ [Psalms 35:19; 69:4] “But when the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor-Counselor, Strengthener, Standby] comes whom I will send to you from the Father, He will testify of Me and bear witness about Me. But you will testify also and be My witnesses from the beginning.” {inserts mine} {emphasis mine}

Please read the account in John 16.

This sequence is progressive.

John 16 is divided up into four sections: John 16:1-4 is entitled, “Jesus’ Warning”; John 16:5-15 is entitled, “The Holy Spirit is Promised”; John 16:16-22 is entitled “Jesus’ Death and Resurrection”; John 16:23-33 is entitled, “Prayer Promises”.

First, Jesus warns His disciples of what will be the natural consequences of following Him as a disciple. He tells them what to expect “so that you will not stumble or be caught off guard and fall away.” (John 16:1 )

Jesus is warning them not to be offended by how they are treated for following Him. Don’t allow the words hurled at you on My account become an offense or (personal) stumbling block and fall away from the faith.

Second, Jesus reiterates (verse 7) the promise of the coming of the Third Person of the Trinity, Holy Spirit.

Jesus has been preparing them for His literal, physical departure back to His Father.

He knows that this is going to devastate them.

He is assuring them, even though they do not understand it yet, that His physical departure will result in His Spiritual return to them.

How can this be?

Quoting the MacArthur Study Bible, pg 1614, regarding the Promise of the Holy Spirit’s coming, it reads (verses 14:18,19 NKJV) “I will come to you…you will see Me. First, He was referring to His resurrection, after which they would see Him (20:19-29). There is no record that any unbelievers saw Him after He rose (1 Corinthians 15:1-9). In another sense, this has reference to the mystery of the Trinity. Through the coming and indwelling of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Jesus would be back with His children. (16:16; cf Matthew 28:20; Romans 8:9; I John 4:13)”

Jesus ascended back into heaven in ‘bodily’ form; and He will ‘spiritually’ descend into those who accept Him as their Savior.

Christ dwells in us through the Holy Spirit.

Please read John 16:14-18.

Third, to backup His previous comments about returning to His Father, Jesus elaborates on His death and resurrection.

Throughout this passage, Jesus, knowing their internal emotional state, continues to reassure them that He will come to them again after His death, burial, and resurrection.

In John 16:22, He pinpoints their ’emotions’ with these words, “So for now you are in grief; but I will see you again, [then] your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away from you your [great] joy.”

(This is not referring to His second coming.)

In the fourth section, Jesus closes His final words sharing the privileges that await for them in prayer.

Consider the following assurances: verse 23, “in that day”, “I assure you”, “whatever you ask in My name”; verse 24, “Until now”, “ask…keep on asking”; verse 26, “In that day”, “I will ask”.

We must understand this, that these privileges of prayer are conditional upon our obedient relationship to Him.

Summarizing our thoughts.

What has been the purpose of Jesus gathering together with His disciples during these last few precious hours He had with them?

It was a time to celebrate the Passover Feast according to the Law.

The keeping of this Feast became a gathering place for Jesus’ final words to prepare His disciples for what is about to take place.

Our emphasis has been that He is leaving and the Holy Spirit is coming.

But we know that much more than this has been taking place.

What are the implications?

This is happening just hours before His betrayal, arrest, trial, and crucifixion.

This Passover has had many dramatic moments; it has a dramatic ending: but it also initiates an incredible new beginning.

There is much that is talked about, modeled, and set in motion in John 13:1-17, that is very significant, revolutionary, sobering, and crucial for the on going work of the ministry of Jesus Christ, and the building of His Church.

The Passover Meal has been an instructional time to lay the foundation for the ‘major change curve’ facing the lives of His disciples; the religion of the Jewish nation; the salvation of humanity; the victory over sin and death; and the dethroning of Satan’s authority.

All of this is made possible through Christ’s death on the C.R.O.S.S.

C.R.O.S.S. – Christ Reconciled Our Sinful State

And it has been accomplished by God”s G.R.A.C.E.

G.R.A.C.E – God’s Redemptive Activity Changed Everything

This post has been focusing on one significant aspect of Jesus’ final remarks to His disciples.

His remarks centered on the coming of the Holy Spirit.

John 16:28-33 are the closing words of Jesus to His disciples. He says to them, “I have come from the Father and come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father. His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly to us and not in figures of speech! Now we know that You know all things, and have not need for anyone to question You; because of this we believe [without any doubt] that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you now [at last] believe? Take careful notice: an hour is coming, and has arrived, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, leaving Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you will have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.] {Amplified Version}

Jesus closes the Upper Room discourse with a prayer (John 17) to His Father.

This prayer is referred to, as His ‘High Priestly Prayer’.

I recommend that you read John 17.

John 18:1, Amplified Version, “HAVING SAID these things, Jesus left with His disciples and went across the ravine of the Kidron. There was a garden there, which He and disciples entered.”

Part 2 asks this question:

Is there something more important for us to understand and to embrace than the coming of the Holy Spirit that we need to give our attention to?

Yes.

END OF PART 1.

50 days after Jesus’ resurrection, Jerusalem is celebrating Pentecost.

Heaven Is Coming! Part 1

In the late 1960’s, I said to my wife, Christine, “If this is all there is to Christianity, then I want out.”

Was I in despair? What is the basis for such a statement?

I can only make conjecture.

I think I can safely say that it was a frustration of an unsatisfied spiritual life that I was not even aware that I had.

I am grateful to the Lord that upon hearing those words of ‘despair’ He didn’t abandon me (us); but graciously, mercifully, and lovingly, intervened in our lives and showed us that there is truly more to Christianity than one may think.

In essence, heaven intervened.

Christine and I both grew up attending church.

It was, shall I say, part of our childhood life; what we did; and what was expected.

We were married in 1964 at the ‘mature’ age of 20.

Legally, when we were married; Christine was my legal guardian under the law. I didn’t turn 21 until two months after we were married. (lol)

Because we ‘grew up attending church’, we looked for a church to ‘attend’, believing it was right to do so.

The normal thing to do, right?

We wanted it to be part of our married life.

We looked. We attended. We were dissatisfied with what we saw and heard.

We were not ‘satisfied’.

Question: What were we looking for? I am not sure we knew.

Little did we know that the Lord was guiding our footsteps.

That’s called Sovereignty and Providence.

Christine and I were both nominal Christians at best.

We had some Biblical understanding (I think); but basically trained to ‘attend’ church.

Speaking for myself, I had some basic Biblical understanding; but I cannot quantify it, other than it was shallow; yet there was a foundation that had been laid that ‘attending church’ was important.

Question: What was the Lord’s response to my personal words of ‘despair’?

Answer: The Lord introduced us to the Third Person of the Trinity.

His Name is Holy Spirit.

It has been nearly 60 years since that intervention.

The Lord began revealing to us who Holy Spirit is, and what is His part in the life of a believer in Jesus Christ; His function in the Church; and His part in the salvific plan of redemption by the God-head.

During the past 60 years of our married life, our journey with the Lord has been more than we could have imagined.

Married at 20;turning 81 in 2024; we have lived 75% of our lives together under the tutelage of the Lord, guided by Holy Spirit, learning to please the Father, walking by faith in obedience to the Word of God.

We were ‘enrolled’ in the ‘School of the Spirit’, as members of the Body of Christ, the Church by the Lord.

This enrollment included ‘attending’ church.

But it was much more than just ‘attending’.

We, were now, as outlined in Acts 2:42 NASV, “…continually devoting (ourselves) themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. (insert mine)

Question: What brought about an abrupt change in lifestyle to those who were in Jerusalem fifty days after Jesus’ resurrection?

Answer: Acts 2:1-4 NASV, “And when the day of Pentecost had come (was being fulfilled), they [followers of Christ] were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.” (marginal notes) [insert mine]

I want to ‘arrest’ your mind.

I want you to disregard your ‘scriptural prejudices’ about the Day of Pentecost for a moment.

Lay those thoughts aside.

I want you to focus not on ‘what’ took place; but to focus on ‘Who’ came “from heaven“.

Emphasizing Acts 2:2: it begins with these words-“And suddenly there came from heaven…”.

I am NOT minimizing God, the Father; NOR am I minimizing Jesus, the Son.

I am pointing out ‘Who’ came: God, the Holy Spirit.

This is the One, the Lord introduced us too.

I had hardly ever heard about the Holy Spirit growing up in church, as I remember.

The Lord introduced the Person that we needed functioning in our lives.

The Third Person of the Trinity.

The Holy Spirit is the Promise of the Father, according to the words of Jesus, the Son. (Luke 24:49)

The Promise of the Father is one of the central truths explained to Christ’s disciples in the Upper Room, the night of His arrest.

In context, Jesus is speaking about His soon departure going back to the Father.

He is reassuring His disciples of His love and care for them.

He is instructing them about praying to the Father; the ground rules for praying; the expected results of prayer; and about the coming of the Holy Spirit.

This is all found in John 14-16.

Let me paraphrase.

Jesus is speaking to them about a GAP that is going to occur shortly; and how He, the Father, and the Holy Spirit are going to be there for them.

In order to go back to the Father, Jesus will lay down His life as the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.

He is headed to the Cross!

The G.A.P.- Jesus shares with them about His Going; Assurance, and a Promise.

Jesus emphasizing His oneness with His Father. He instructs His disciples about praying to the Father; the conditions for praying when praying to the Father; and the assurance of answered prayer from the Father.

Continuing, Jesus says, in John 14:16-18 NASV,

“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, who the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him, or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”

Again, let me ‘quiet’ your mind.

Put aside your ‘scriptural prejudices’.

Do you hear what Jesus is saying?

First of all, as His disciple, He invokes the entire God-head, the Trinity is there for you. God-the Father; God-the Son; and God-the Holy Spirit.

Go back and read the verses.

Secondly, He has been physically with them for three plus years; but very shortly, His presence, as they know it, is going to be removed from them.

And He knows that is going to devastate them.

Jesus said they would be as ‘orphans’.

What does that conjure up in your mind?

Maybe you understand that personally?

Third, Jesus is assuring them, that His Father will send them another Person to replace Him in their lives.

That Person is the Third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit.

Fast forward to the Day of Pentecost.

The Holy Spirit came; descended out of heaven ten days after Jesus ascended into heaven, on the Day of Pentecost.

I contend, that many in the Church today, have an ‘unsatisfied spiritual life’.

There is an undercurrent of a cry in many believer’s hearts like the cry of my heart almost 60 years ago that said, “If this is all that Christianity is about, then I want out.”

I understand now that this was not a statement of disowning my salvation.

This was a longing of the ‘heart of a sheep’ looking for something that is missing and really can’t put a ‘handle’ on it.

I also know I didn’t realize that at that time.

(I barely understood what it meant to be saved.)

I had an ‘unsatisfied life’ explained to me many years ago.

I encourage you to read Psalm 42:1-6 and reflect on the words.

If this is truly the cry of your heart, then read the rest of Psalm 42 and Psalm 43.

Our ‘unsatisfied life’ changes as we learn to be content in the Lordship of Jesus Christ, submitting to His Headship, guided and enabled by Holy Spirit, and learning to walk by faith pleasing our heavenly Father, according to the Word of God, in the context of the Church, as summarized in Acts 2:42: that is centered in the ‘apostles teaching’; maintaining ‘fellowship’ with the Body of Christ; ‘breaking bread’ with the Church; and ‘prayer’, individually and corporately.

The Holy Spirit is an active member of the God-Head.

His activity is documented from Genesis 1:1 through Revelation 22:21.

The Person of the Holy Spirit cannot be ignored when living the Christian life.

The Person of the Holy Spirit is an integral part of the entire purpose of God as revealed in the Word of God.

I encourage you to ask the Lord to reveal to you the Person and work of the Holy Spirit in your life.

I am not saying that the Holy Spirit is not in you.

If you belong to Christ, then the Spirit of God dwells in you. (Romans 8:9,10)

I am confident that the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ is about to be confronted with an A.I. moment orchestrated by God, the Father.

I call it, Adonai’s Intervention–Acts 2:2 says, “and suddenly there came from heaven…”

The Holy Spirit came at the Feast of Pentecost ten days after Jesus’ ascension.

Here is what I want you to think about?

Question: When you pray the prayer Jesus gave to His disciples,when they asked Him to teach them to pray in Matthew 6, what do you expect as a response when you say the following words? (Matthew 6:9,10, NASV)

“Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed by Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.” (emphasis mine)

What is your expectation?

My expectation is my Father’s intervention.

Our Father is coming with an Adonai Intervention is going to suddenly happen soon!

‘suddenly from heaven’.

This intervention is NOT the second coming of Christ; but it will be a coming of the Holy Spirit, convicting the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement. (John 16:8)

It will be a ‘suddenly’ that will reveal the Presence and Power of God to our nation and the nations of the world before the return of Christ.

God, Himself, is coming with ACTION.

It’s A Chosen Time In Our Nation.

This coming will awaken His Church. (Ephesians 5:13-21)

This awakening will bring change to the Church.

There is a shaking coming.

Hebrews 12:25-28 NASV:

“See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less shall we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven. And His voice shook the earth then, but now He promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.” And this expression, “Yet once more” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, in order that those things which cannot be shaken remain. Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.”

May the Lord richly bless you as you faithfully continue to follow Him,

blessings, a brother in Christ, deo

“For I am the Lord, I do not change.” Malachi 3:6 (NKJV)

Some time ago, a Bible teacher that I respect very much made this comment, “You and God are incompatible, and He doesn’t change.” (Bob Mumford) That statement is profound and doctrinally true according to the Word of God.

In the book review of William P. Young’s novel, THE SHACK, GotQuestions.org.’s made the following observation of Young’s portrayal of God : “God never changes Himself so that we understand Him better; He changes us so that we can see Him as He clearly is. If God changed His nature He would cease to be God.”

How much preaching/teaching in the Church today presents an accurate Biblical understanding of Who God is ? Or has the Church changed its preaching/teaching to create for itself an understanding of God that is palatable for us at the expense of being culturally correct and/or not offending those that are listening? This brings to mind another statement made by Bob Mumford, “God will get you in the end.” (Philippians 2:5-11)

It is important that we focus on the Word of God. Jesus is the Word made flesh. (John 1:14-18). The writer to the Hebrews said, Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:1-4 (NKJV), “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the exact image of His person, and uphold all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they…Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, G0d also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?” (emphasis mine)

In I Thessalonians 1:5 (NKJV), the apostle Paul writes, “For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.”

Simply put, as I understand it, the Word of the Lord, was confirmed with signs following. In Mark 16:1-20,which includes the events surrounding the resurrection of Jesus and His subsequent appearance to Mary Magdalene; His appearance to two discouraged followers on the road to Emmaus; and then His appearance to His eleven disciples. Jesus said to the eleven, “…Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned ( see John 3:16-21). And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly; it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Does this mean we can recklessly do things that profane the Word of God ministering in His name to other people? Absolutely not! But why would the Lord give such an instruction if He did not intend it to be true? Mark 16:19 (NKJV) continues, “So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God (see Acts 7:54-56; Hebrews 1:3, 12:1-2; 1 Peter 3:22).”

How did the disciples respond? Mark 16:20 (NKJV) says, “And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.” This means that the signs the Lord said would take place did, in fact, happen. The Word was confirmed with signs following.

We need to focus on what transpired between the time Jesus spoke to them as recorded in verses Mark 16:15-18 and what happened in verse Mark 16:20. Verse 19 says, (NKJV) “…He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.” Jesus ascended into heaven. Why is this important? It is important because of the events and the instructions that Jesus gave to His followers before He ascended.

When was that? During the forty days between the day of His resurrection and the day of His ascension.

The gospel of Luke gives us the insight we need. Turning to Luke 24:36-53 (NKJV), Luke has recorded what transpired after Jesus revealed Himself to the two followers on the road to Emmaus, left them, and is now standing the in midst of His disciples . Here is what took place.

“Now as they (the two followers Jesus had spoken with on the Emmaus road) (insert mine) said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them (disciples), and said to them, “Peace to you”. But they were terrified and frightened and supposed they had seen a spirit. And He said to them, “Why are are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. But while they still do not believe for joy and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate it in their presence. Then He said unto them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.” Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations beginning at Jerusalem. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you, but tarry in the City of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” (emphasis mine) And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.”

I know that is a lot to consider, but it sets the context of what took place the forty days between Christ and His disciples from the time of His resurrection to His ascension.

We now turn to the Book of Acts, specifically Acts 1:1-2:47. This is the continuation of Luke’s gospel record of what took place in the lives of Christ’s disciples.

The disciples did not just take the instruction recorded in Mark 16 (Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 24:44-53;) go out on their own and do what Jesus had told them to do. Jesus had given them additional instructions. Those additional instructions are recorded in Acts 1; experienced in Acts 2; obeyed in Acts 3.

Between the commissioning of the disciples and their compliance to obey, they were told to wait. Wait for what? That is what is recorded in Acts 1,2.

Acts 1:4-8, (NKJV), Luke records, “And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to WAIT (emphasis mine) for the Promise of the Father, which, He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now”. Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom of Israel?” And He said to them, “it is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, to the end of the earth.” After these words, He ascended into heaven.

Now what? They needed to WAIT. How long? Until the fulfillment of the Promise of the Father: the coming of the Holy Spirit. In order to fulfill their commissioning, they needed to be empowered by the Third Person of the Trinity, Holy Spirit. This is the fulfillment of what Jesus told in the upper room (John 13-16) the night He was betrayed. He had to grow away. It was to their advantage that He depart because the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, would come and be with them.

They WAITED; on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came, “And they are filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:4 NKJV) The Church begins, Peter preaches to the crowd assembled; the summary of Peter’s words are found in Acts 2:36 (NKJV), “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” (The message has not changed.) (insert mine). Acts 2: 37 (NKJV) continues, “Now when they (the crowd) heard this, they (the crowd) were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” The Word of God had pierced their hearts and they cried out, now what?

Acts 2:38 (NKJV), Peter responds without hesitation, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

Repent and be forgiven of your sins; be water baptized, identify with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection; be filled with the Holy Spirit that empowers your new life in Christ. [A,B,C = Atonement (justification), Water Baptism (Identification), Comforter (Holy Spirit’s Enabling Power)] (insert mine).]

What is the outcome of the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost?

It is the Promise of the Father just as Jesus had explained to them. It is the coming of the Comforter, just as Jesus had explained to them in the upper room and just as Jesus has explained to them again prior to His ascension. The Holy Spirit is the Power that will enable the disciples who were commissioned with a message, to proclaim that message as Christ’s Apostles with signs following. It is the Presence of the Third Person of the Trinity directing the growth and the mission of the Church here on earth. The Holy Spirit is the C.E.O. of the Church. He is the Chief Executive Officer. (See the blogs, The Lord’s C.E.O. and The Holy Spirit, Agent of Change, go to livingwordsofencouragement.com)

Looking back into the Old Testament, we need to reflect upon the Word of the Lord given to Zerubbabel. In Zechariah 4:6 (NKJV), it says, “…This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, Says the Lord of hosts.” This word is true today. Why? Because God doesn’t change.

Zerubbabel had the responsibility to oversee the rebuilding of the Temple of God in Jerusalem after the exiles returned from Babylon to Judah. The Lord told him that it was not going to be done in the strength and ingenuity of man but by His Spirit. The same is true today. Jesus is building His Church, and He is using the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to accomplish it.

Acts 2:40-46 (NKJV), records for us the beginning of the building of the Church with the coming of Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.

“And with many other words he (Peter) (insert mine) testified and exhorted them (crowd), saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them (the Church). And they (new believers) continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine (teaching), and fellowship, in the breaking of bread (most likely the observance of communion as taught by the Lord in the upper room, along with a meal)( inserts mine), and in prayers. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

Here we are shown the beginning of the Church, the community of believers, the basic ‘organizational’ commitment that functioned as a living organism, centered in Christ, directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit, living in simplicity and truth, resulting in a lifestyle of “praising God and having favor with all the people”. (Acts 2:47a, NKJV).

Last December, I posted a blog entitled, THE LORD’S C.E.O. . It was a follow up to a series of blogs entitled, GOVERNMENTAL CONTROL, WHO IS IN CHARGE? ( a series of 5 blogs). I find myself again, pressed to make the point that the Holy Spirit of God, the Third Person of the Trinity, is the Lord’s Chief Executive Officer (C.E.O.) of the Church. The Lord is the Head of the Church (Ephesians 1:22) and the Holy Spirit, the promise of God the Father, is the One who is guiding, directing, encouraging, and empowering the Church in the earth.

As I entitled this blog, it says in Malachi 3;6 (NKJV) , “For I am the Lord, I do not change.”. (emphasis mine)

The prophet Malachi is expressing God’s heart for His people, reminding them of His covenantal love for them, and confronting them with their lifestyle as God’s people that has offended and angered Him greatly. In short, God’s people are fortunate that He doesn’t change otherwise they would have fallen into the hands of an angry God (Hebrews 10:31)

Questions: Does the Church, today, please God? Is it functioning according to the government of man, or is it governed by the Holy Spirit? Is the Word of God being faithfully preached, or is it being interpreted to fit the societal culture of our day? Are God’s people giving their best offerings, or are they ‘robbing God’ (Malachi 3:8) giving Him the left overs? Are God’s people pressing into God in prayer for the needs of others, or are they praying, pursuing their own agenda? Is the Church centered in Christ, or is it centered in the political turmoil of this nation?

In short, Where is the focus of the Church? is the Church being the Body of Christ to a lost world or is it missing its purpose as Israel missed its purpose as the people of God?

God’s message to Israel, through Malachi, began with a covenantal reminder of God’s love for them and that He had not changed.

Malachi 3:6,7 (NKJV) continues, “…Therefore you not consumed, O sons of Jacob. Yet from the days of your fathers You have gone away from My ordinances and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” Says the Lord of hosts. but you said, In what way shall we return? (emphasis mine)

God says, I love you, but I have something against you. Does that sound familiar? What did Jesus say to the seven churches addressed in the Revelation? (Revelation 1-3)

If the Lord wrote a letter to His Church today what do you think He would say?

It is not my responsibility to answer that question; but I do believe that the Lord is going to bring correction to His Church.

Correction is the change that the Lord is going to bring. It will come in a shaking.

Hebrews 12: 25-29 (NKJV), “See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.”

Is your heart ready to accept the Word of the Lord that will bring change?

How hard was it for Jewish Christians to let go of the old, and embrace the new found in Christ?

How did Paul admonish the Galatian Church?

Galatians 3:1-5 (NKJV), “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the words of the law, or by the hearing of faith ?(emphasis mine) Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain–if indeed it was vain? Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” (emphasis mine)

How’s your hearing of faith?

blessings, a brother in Christ, deo

TBC

CHANGE IS COMING, ‘GET USED TO DIFFERENT’

Are you ready for change? Because ‘Change is Coming’. At the end of last year, I prayed and asked the Lord about what to expect in 2022, and He said that change was coming. That did not surprise me; but as 2022 has unfolded ‘change’ is certainly in the ‘air’. The television drama, The Chosen, coined the phrase, ‘Get Used To Different’. The word ‘change’ designates difference; but what kind of difference is the Lord talking about?

For myself, there are many changes that I would like to see personally: growth in my relationship to the Lord; the salvation of family members; the unfolding of the Lord’s will for Christine and me, as we approach becoming an ‘octogenarian’. These changes are the same changes that many of you aspire too in your lives as you grow older (probably not 80 yet). Each of these changes bring difference. But there are other differences that all of us must wrestle with too.

We face struggling with spiritual, political, economic, and cultural changes going on in our nation, and in the world. We have struggled, some more, some less, with the Covid pandemic; but the truth is that none of us has been immune to the changes that the Covid pandemic has brought; the Covid pandemic continues to bring changes; and the Covid pandemic has caused many to seriously struggle with ‘Get Used To Different’, because we don’t like the changes that are being made. What sort of wakeup call has the Covid pandemic been to you personally? What struggles has it produced? How has your thinking changed going through this worldwide catastrophe? I wrote this blog prior to the events of February 23, 2022. The Russian aggression against the Ukraine has become a worldwide headline that we all are contending with in our daily lives. Now what?

Between the closing page of the Biblical text of Malachi in the Old Testament to the opening page of the Biblical text of Matthew in the New Testament, there is a span of 400 plus years of silence. The Old Testament had continually pointed to a moment in time when the Messiah would come. The silence was initially broken, spectacularly and majestically (Luke 2) the night Jesus, the Son of God, was born.

30 years after Jesus’ birth, a man burst onto the scene, a prophet about whom the Old Testament had prophesied would come and herald the coming of the Messiah. That prophet, John the Baptist, in Matthew 3, shouts into the silence of his day, “Change is Coming, Get Used to Different”. Well, we know, he didn’t really say those words, but that is the essence of the meaning of his words. What is recorded in Matthew 3:1-3 NKJV, says, “In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:(Isaiah 40:3 NKJV), “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight.” ” With these words that were shouted into the silence by John the Baptist, came ‘change’, and everyone had to ‘get used to different’. Have there been other recorded movements of change in the scripture that have made a difference? Absolutely, that is the essence of the Biblical narrative. As you read the Bible, ask yourself, what change does what I just read bring? How does that change make things different? In the Word of God, there are the good, the bad, and the ugly changes; and their results are good, bad, and ugly. God’s Word tells it like it is.

For instance, what change did Adam and Eve’s disobedience have in their relationship to God? What difference did it make? The answer to those two questions is found woven throughout the Biblical narrative. Did change come, as a result of their sin, to God’s creation? Has everything been changed? Did Adam and Eve need to ‘get used to different’? The good news is that Adam and Eve’s sin did not change God, nor did it make a difference in Who God is? If I may be so bold, sin has brought about the revelation of the Divine Nature of the Triune Holy God, our Most High God, our Creator of the Universe, our gracious and loving Heavenly Father; His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ; and the Holy Spirit. They are Holy, Holy, Holy.

I submit to you that the Church, the Body of Christ, the Israel of God (Galatians 6:16b) will undergo ‘change’ in 2022. It’s coming. The change will not be an ‘extra Biblical experience’; it will not be outside the text of scripture; but I believe it will be a catalyst that will initiate ‘change’ in the Church, as we know it today in our nation, and in the other nations of the world, making a difference that has been absent for some time. This will result in the Church being more dynamic and influential in its interaction with humanity throughout the world. This change is already beginning to happen.

Let me quote from a monthly letter (February 10, 2022) I receive from United Evangelical Churches, headed by Robert B. Fort, Chairman.

“I receive praise reports from pastors, evangelists, missionaries & Christian workers all the time via texts, e-mails & letters sharing about wonderful, often miraculous and definitely supernatural things God is doing in and through those who are struggling in their efforts to reach out to those in the field of their calling.”

God is working daily through His people.

“Jesus is still going about the cities and villages of this world and healing hurting people of their sickness and disease (physical, emotional & spiritual); it just that He’s now doing it through you and me! What a privilege it is to partner with you in bringing the gospel of the kingdom to his hurting world.!”

The truth is that this is going to increase throughout the world. Change is coming, ‘get used to different’.

At this time, I would like to share the following thoughts from Genesis 15::7-21.

The story of Abraham begins with God interacting with a man’s life in the city of Ur. That man’s name was Abram, later ‘changed’ to Abraham, because of the ‘differences’ God made in Abram’s life. God is saying to Abram, ‘change is coming, get used to different’.

God came to Abram and gave him directions about leaving his homeland and his father’s house. Abram left but did not completely separate himself from his family at this time. The narrative continues to this turning point in Abram’s life. Genesis 15:1-6 records a conversation between God and Abram, initiated by God, through a vision. God promises Abram an heir from his own body; and that heir would become a nation of people that would grow innumerable. These words are an expansion of what God originally said to Abram in Genesis 12. In Genesis 15:7-15, God enters into a covenant relationship with Abram. Abram, under God’s direction, gathers and prepares the sacrifice. The scripture says, (verses 12-16) that “a deep sleep fell upon Abram”. At that time God spoke these words, (verse 13), “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years”. (NKJV).

May I, humorously interject again, Abram, when you wakeup, ‘change is coming, get used to different’. Genesis is the book of beginnings. One of the major beginnings is the history of Israel that began with the choosing of Abram. That history continues throughout the book of Genesis. It’s story records how the descendants of Abram became “strangers in a land that is not theirs”, serving those who lived in that land, and afflicted them there for four hundred years. Note, remember that there were 400 plus years of silence between the closing of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament.

At the end of Genesis, Joseph, a descended of Abram, who had had his life altered by a dream that he received from God as a youth, is coming to end of his life. He had not understood the dream when he received it as a youth; but it set in motion ‘a change is coming, get ready for different’. Joseph lived out that dream and now in Genesis 50:24-25 (NKJV), Joseph says to his brothers, “…I am dying; but God will surely visit you and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Then Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” The story continues for years, changes keep coming, and differences keep occurring. They are all in God’s plan for the nation of Israel.

Joseph’s last words remind us of what God had promised to Abram, who became Abraham. They look prophetically to the book of Exodus. The title of the book, Exodus, radiates our theme, ‘change is coming, get used to different’. Moses will step into the scene, declare to Israel, and to Pharaoh, God says, ‘change is coming, get used to different’. Again, we know God didn’t really say those words, but Moses will enter ‘center stage’ into the life of the nation of Israel in a dynamic way, and through him, God will bring about change, and differences both in Israel and Egypt. How much more will God do now through His Son, via the Church, the Israel of God in our land of Egypt, the world.

I believe the Church needs to embrace these words, ‘Change is Coming, Get Used To Different’. As I shared earlier in this blog, the world has certainly been subjected to change because of the Covid pandemic. I am not looking to make a political statement regarding the handling of the pandemic. The realization is that the Church, the Body of Christ, the Israel of God has been affected with change and its ensuing differences with ramifications. Christians have sought to understand the implications of ‘change’ and ‘different’. Christians have and are wrestling with, now what, just like the rest of humanity.

My question to myself, and my question to you is: Have you pressed into the Lord? or have you focused on the problem? I am not advocating sweeping the problem under the rug and ignore it. I am exhorting us, encouraging us, to remember Jesus’s words found in John 16:31-33 (NKJV), “Jesus answered them (the disciples in the Upper Room prior to His arrest), “Do you now believe? “(Believe what? What He had been telling Him about Himself, His purpose for coming, His necessity of leaving, the coming of the Holy Spirit, and His revelation of the Father.) “Indeed, the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet, I am not alone because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” I wonder how many have been scattered to their own, and/or felt alone?

Jesus has just told them, ‘change is coming, get used to different’.

Am I, are we, is the Church ready for change? I believe there is change coming to the Church. I recently posted on Facebook a comment from a Spurgeon devotional, edited by Alistar Begg, that said, “The church will never prosper until more reverently it believes in the Holy Ghost.” I accept that assessment. How much of the Church is governed by the wisdom of man and not the wisdom and direction of the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is the C.E.O. of the Church. The Third Person of the Trinity is Christ’s, Chief Executive Officer. That is what Jesus was instructing His disciples in the Upper Room discourse prior to His arrest, trial, and crucifixion.

Who is the agent of change? The Holy Spirit.

Change is Coming, Get Used To Different, because the Holy Spirit is going to bring dramatic changes to how things are conducted by the Church.

Change is Coming!

TBC, a brother in Christ, deo

______________________________________________

FYI, I have written a blog entitled, ‘The Lord’s C.E.O.’ visit livingwordsofencouragement.com if you would like to read that blog.

The phrase, Get Used to Different, was, I believe, created by The Chosen. It is printed on a T-shirt I received as a gift at Christmas from my daughter. The Chosen, 295 W. center Street, Provo, Utah, 84601, Copyright 2022 The Chosen, All rights reserved.

The letter I quoted from is from the National Office of United Evangelical Churches, P.O. Box 1000, San Juan Bautista, CA. 95045-1000; e-mail: admin@uecol.org; website is at http://www.eucol.org

P.S. As I inserted earlier, since the original writing of this blog, things have dramatically changed. Russia has declared war on the Ukraine. The world is changing; but our God is Sovereign, and He is working out all things according to the council of His will. Let us press into the Lord; let us pray for God’s intervention between Russia and the Ukraine; and let us pray for our brothers and sisters caught in the midst of this aggression.