The Advent Part 36
Just as in our physical bodies, the hand does not pick up a piece of bread to keep it for itself, but gives it to the mouth, and the mouth gives it to the stomach, so it is within the Body of Christ, wherein the gifts that God grants us are not for our own personal use, but rather for the building up and the edification of the entire Body.
1 Corinthians 12:4-7, “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.”
In order for the body to be in peak condition, in order for the body to be strong, every member, every appendage, every organ must work properly and perform its given function. When one organ is ailing, when one member is out of sync with the rest of the body it weakens the whole, and it slows down the entire construct. There are instances wherein one organ, or one appendage is so far gone, and it causes so much damage to the rest of the body that it is physically removed, surgically separated from the whole for fear that it will corrupt and eventually kill off the body in its entirety.
For those of you that have been reading this weblog for some time, you know my trials and travails with both arthritis and gout. Although I’ve been able to keep my gout in check through diet, abstaining from purine rich foods such as beef, liver, and shellfish, there is nothing I can do to keep the arthritis from flaring up whenever the weather changes, or when there is precipitation. Arthritis is a localized pain, for me it is in my feet, sometimes even in just one toe, but the pain in one digit is enough to immobilize my entire body, or in the least slow it down dramatically.
It is the same with the household of faith, the family of God, and the body of Christ. The entire body must be healthy from head to toe, and every one of us must perform our tasks faithfully, using the gifts which God entrusted us with for the profit of all, that we might grow and mature, and see the promises of the heavenly Father unfolding before our very eyes.
There has been much debate as to why the Holy Spirit would give those who had been gathered in the upper room the utterance to speak in other human tongues. Personally I believe it was the only way by which those who had gathered to celebrate Pentecost from throughout the nations, could understand and perceive what was happening, or at least conclude that this was a supernatural event taking place, something beyond human comprehension or reasoning. Here were one hundred twenty individuals who had not learned the languages they were now speaking, and chances are they had never even heard some of them. These were not world travelers, they were not savvy tourists who’d picked up a few phrases here or there, they were average, working class individuals who struggled to survive from day to day never mind traipse off to other nations. Both those gathered in the upper room, and those who heard them speaking realized that what they were witnessing was a miracle that surpassed their intellect.
Jesus had told His followers to go and make disciples of all the nations, and now through the advent of the Holy Spirit He had given them the necessary tools to do as He had commanded them. God will not assign us a task, He will not assign us a duty without thoroughly equipping us, and giving us the requisite tool to carry out that which we were charged with. If God tells you to build a wall, He will provide the brick and the mortar, if God tells you to build an ark, He will provide the wood and the nails.
Jesus had also promised His disciples that He would be with them always, and the advent of the Holy Spirit was the fulfillment of this promise as well. Not only were the disciples given the power to preach the Gospel to all the nations, they were also given the wisdom, and by the unction of the Holy Spirit they were able to preach the Gospel in their hearers’ own native tongues.
Matthew 28:18-20, “Then Jesus came and spoke to them saying, ‘all authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”
On the Day of Pentecost, Christ had fulfilled all His promises toward His disciples, filling them with the power of the Holy Spirit, giving them the requisite tools and equipping them to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria and to the ends of the earth.
It was not in and of themselves, it was not due to any special skill or attribute that they possessed prior to being filled with the power of the Holy Spirit that a handful of souls turned the world on its ear, and the message of the Gospel swept through every nation. It was because they were filled with power, and the Spirit of God spoke through them, and because miracles followed them wherever they went, that thousands upon thousands of souls came to know Jesus as Lord and King, that they were compelled to fall at the foot of the cross in repentance, and were born again, new creations in Christ.
What’s more, wherever they went, whatever miracles God performed through them, they knew that it was Him. They neither attempted to garner glory for themselves, nor attempted to build up their own personal ministries, but all was done for Christ, in Christ, and through Christ.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
The Holy Spirit: Power Presence and Purpose Part 43
The Advent Part 35
Acts 2:4, “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
As we continue with our discussion of what occurred on the Day of Pentecost we see two other elements introduced into the collective experience of those who were present. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
In total we see four distinct events that took place on the day the Holy Spirit descended:
1. A sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind.
2. Divided tongues, as of fire, which sat upon each of them.
3. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit.
4. They began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
In reality, we can call these four events elements of a singular work, the advent of the Holy Spirit, because these four events took place simultaneously even though Luke describes them as though they occurred in different stages.
From this moment forward, until the return of Christ Jesus, from this moment forward until His bride is caught away, the Holy Spirit will remain among us, as the Helper, The Comforter, the Spirit of holiness, the Spirit of prophecy, the Spirit of knowledge, the Spirit of truth, the Spirit of might, the Spirit of wisdom, the Spirit of counsel, the Spirit of adoption, the Spirit of glory, and the list goes on.
For such emphasis to be placed on the Holy Spirit within both the Old and New Testaments, for Jesus to have mentioned Him and spoken of Him so often, and for Him to have only been available for a brief window of time after which He would return to the Father who had sent Him would be both absent of reason and illogical.
With the baptism of the Holy Spirit we as redeemed and born again children of God also receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We will be discussing each individual gift at length in subsequent postings, but for now there are certain truths we must understand regarding these gifts that are of great import for us as followers of Christ. First, not all believers receive the same gifts, but as God sees fit, as He ordains, and as He wills, He gives one or more of these gifts to individuals, that they might be fully equipped for the task that He sets before them. In essence the gifts of the Holy Spirit are tools with which we can faithfully carry out the duty, ministry or calling that God has set before us as individuals. Some receive the gift of prophecy, while others the gift of tongues, while others the gift of interpretation of tongues, while others still the gift of working miracles, the gift of discerning spirits, the gift of healing or the gift of faith. Having one or more of these gifts does not make us superior, it does not entitle us to lord over our brethren, rather with the full knowledge that to whom much is given much is required, we ought to be all the more diligent in walking the narrow path of faith faithfully.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs once, it does not repeat itself, yet we are constantly filled with the Holy Spirit, as is confirmed by the Word of God.
Acts 4:31, “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”
Those of whom the Word speaks as being ‘filled’ with the Holy Spirit, were the selfsame individuals gathered in the upper room, the Apostles and those that fellowshipped with them, who had previously been ‘baptized’ with the Holy Spirit. Once we have been baptized with the Holy Spirit, it is incumbent upon us to do as the Apostles did, and continue in prayer and supplication, that we might continually be filled, that we would never run low, that we would perpetually and without fail have boldness to speak the Word of God and walk in the authority we have been commanded to walk in.
So within this singular work of the Holy Spirit, there are three distinct elements, just as in the Godhead there are three distinct persons. There is the baptism with the Holy Spirit, there is the distribution of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and there is the infilling of the Holy Spirit.
The infilling of the Holy Spirit, or ‘being filled with the Spirit’ follows receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and is a frequent experience within the life of a believer.
One other thing that took place as a direct result of being baptized with the Holy Spirit, and receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit is that all who were present, both men and women, began to speak in other tongues. In total there were twenty tongues in which those who were gathered spoke in, tongues or languages they had not previously learned. It was not of their own unction, or intellect that they spoke in these tongues, but rather, they spoke as the Spirit gave them utterance.
This gift was given to them by the Holy Spirit, as fulfillment of the promise they had been living in expectation of, but also as a personal edification and encouragement.
Although we will get deeper into the topic of the gift of different kinds of tongues, there is one aspect of tongues that I wanted to deal with from the onset, and that is the assumption some have made wherein the gift of tongues is simply the ability to speak in other human languages as the Spirit gives utterance.
Yes, the gift of tongues includes speaking in other human languages, as was the case on the Day of Pentecost, where those who had gathered understood, in their own tongue, what the fellowship of the hundred and twenty souls were saying, but there are also unknown tongues, by which the Spirit speaks not to men but to God.
1 Corinthians 14:2, “For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.”
So for those who contend that unless one who is speaking in tongues is speaking in a known earthly language it is not of God, perhaps something more than a cursory reading of a singular passage of the Bible is in order.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Acts 2:4, “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
As we continue with our discussion of what occurred on the Day of Pentecost we see two other elements introduced into the collective experience of those who were present. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
In total we see four distinct events that took place on the day the Holy Spirit descended:
1. A sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind.
2. Divided tongues, as of fire, which sat upon each of them.
3. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit.
4. They began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
In reality, we can call these four events elements of a singular work, the advent of the Holy Spirit, because these four events took place simultaneously even though Luke describes them as though they occurred in different stages.
From this moment forward, until the return of Christ Jesus, from this moment forward until His bride is caught away, the Holy Spirit will remain among us, as the Helper, The Comforter, the Spirit of holiness, the Spirit of prophecy, the Spirit of knowledge, the Spirit of truth, the Spirit of might, the Spirit of wisdom, the Spirit of counsel, the Spirit of adoption, the Spirit of glory, and the list goes on.
For such emphasis to be placed on the Holy Spirit within both the Old and New Testaments, for Jesus to have mentioned Him and spoken of Him so often, and for Him to have only been available for a brief window of time after which He would return to the Father who had sent Him would be both absent of reason and illogical.
With the baptism of the Holy Spirit we as redeemed and born again children of God also receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We will be discussing each individual gift at length in subsequent postings, but for now there are certain truths we must understand regarding these gifts that are of great import for us as followers of Christ. First, not all believers receive the same gifts, but as God sees fit, as He ordains, and as He wills, He gives one or more of these gifts to individuals, that they might be fully equipped for the task that He sets before them. In essence the gifts of the Holy Spirit are tools with which we can faithfully carry out the duty, ministry or calling that God has set before us as individuals. Some receive the gift of prophecy, while others the gift of tongues, while others the gift of interpretation of tongues, while others still the gift of working miracles, the gift of discerning spirits, the gift of healing or the gift of faith. Having one or more of these gifts does not make us superior, it does not entitle us to lord over our brethren, rather with the full knowledge that to whom much is given much is required, we ought to be all the more diligent in walking the narrow path of faith faithfully.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs once, it does not repeat itself, yet we are constantly filled with the Holy Spirit, as is confirmed by the Word of God.
Acts 4:31, “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”
Those of whom the Word speaks as being ‘filled’ with the Holy Spirit, were the selfsame individuals gathered in the upper room, the Apostles and those that fellowshipped with them, who had previously been ‘baptized’ with the Holy Spirit. Once we have been baptized with the Holy Spirit, it is incumbent upon us to do as the Apostles did, and continue in prayer and supplication, that we might continually be filled, that we would never run low, that we would perpetually and without fail have boldness to speak the Word of God and walk in the authority we have been commanded to walk in.
So within this singular work of the Holy Spirit, there are three distinct elements, just as in the Godhead there are three distinct persons. There is the baptism with the Holy Spirit, there is the distribution of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and there is the infilling of the Holy Spirit.
The infilling of the Holy Spirit, or ‘being filled with the Spirit’ follows receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and is a frequent experience within the life of a believer.
One other thing that took place as a direct result of being baptized with the Holy Spirit, and receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit is that all who were present, both men and women, began to speak in other tongues. In total there were twenty tongues in which those who were gathered spoke in, tongues or languages they had not previously learned. It was not of their own unction, or intellect that they spoke in these tongues, but rather, they spoke as the Spirit gave them utterance.
This gift was given to them by the Holy Spirit, as fulfillment of the promise they had been living in expectation of, but also as a personal edification and encouragement.
Although we will get deeper into the topic of the gift of different kinds of tongues, there is one aspect of tongues that I wanted to deal with from the onset, and that is the assumption some have made wherein the gift of tongues is simply the ability to speak in other human languages as the Spirit gives utterance.
Yes, the gift of tongues includes speaking in other human languages, as was the case on the Day of Pentecost, where those who had gathered understood, in their own tongue, what the fellowship of the hundred and twenty souls were saying, but there are also unknown tongues, by which the Spirit speaks not to men but to God.
1 Corinthians 14:2, “For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.”
So for those who contend that unless one who is speaking in tongues is speaking in a known earthly language it is not of God, perhaps something more than a cursory reading of a singular passage of the Bible is in order.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
The Holy Spirit: Power Presence and Purpose Part 42
The Advent Part 34
Acts 2:3, “Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.”
Every time I read the first few verses of the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, and this is without fail, I get goose bumps. It is simultaneously exciting and humbling to see the exact moment when a new era in human history as well as in the work of God began. The era I speak of, is of course the age of the Holy Spirit, an age which contrary to some didn’t last for a day, a week or a generation, but that is to this day continuing and will continue until the day the Master stands and closes the door.
Luke 13:24-25, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. Once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from.’”
The advent of the Holy Spirit is one of five completed works of God in the world. The first of these works was of course the Son of God coming in the flesh, the second, His work of redemption on the cross, the third, His resurrection, the fourth His ascension into heaven, and the fifth the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. There is as yet a sixth aspect of the work of God in the world that has not come to pass, and that is the return of Christ Jesus at which time He will gather His elect from the four corners of the earth.
Ask anyone how they would react if they were in a room with one hundred nineteen other people and suddenly they saw tongues as of fire appearing on each of them, and you will get a wide variety of answers, from being shocked, to panicking, to yelling at people telling them they were on fire. The fact that they weren’t all running around trying to put out the ‘fire’, the fact that they didn’t panic upon hearing the sound as of a rushing mighty wind tells me that the individuals gathered in the upper room trusted God implicitly. They had not been told what to expect, the details of what was occurring had not been made known to them, all they had been told was to wait until the promise came, and the way in which it came was in no way subtle or subdued.
The first part of that which took place on the day of Pentecost was the baptism with the Holy Spirit, poured out over the entire Congregation of God that had assembled there, and the second part of the selfsame work were the distribution of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, given to each believer individually. The divided tongues, as of fire, sat upon each of them, even though the sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind filled the whole house where they were sitting.
The first part of this great work shows us the birth of the Body of Christ, and the second part shows us the responsibility and duty each individual member has in regards to building the Body and doing the work of God here on earth.
The baptism with the Holy Spirit shows us, and clearly so the indestructible unity between the Body, which is the church, and the head of the Body which is Christ. It is a living unity, never before seen in the history of mankind. Yes, there were believers and men of God even before the advent of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, there were men led by the Holy Spirit such as Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Jeremiah, Daniel, Isaiah, Elijah, and Elisha, men who walked with God, and heard from God, and through whom God did great and mighty works, but they were never part of the Body which has Christ Jesus as the head.
When the tongues as of fire appeared, and divided themselves they sat upon each of them, not differentiating between man and woman, because in Christ we are one, and God does not discriminate in such ways.
Galatians 3:26-28, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
When the Holy Spirit was poured out, it was not only for the Apostles, it was not only for the elders or the bishops, it was not only for the men amidst the congregation of believers, it was for all those who were present, who were there in one accord awaiting the promise of Christ.
Another teachable moment, at least from my perspective is the fact that all those who were present saw the tongues as of fire sitting atop their brethren and not atop themselves. They couldn’t look in a mirror to make sure that a tongue as of fire had settled upon them as well, but they knew that because they saw it atop everyone else that it was likewise atop them. Those who are born again, and have received the Holy Spirit, know those who are born again and are of the same Spirit. We are one in Christ, united in Him, and as such our own ambitions or exalted opinions of self must be mortified along with our flesh. We do not consider ourselves greater than our brethren if by the will of God we have been granted a gift, we do not consider ourselves greater than our brethren if we have been given to prophecy or dream dreams, or discern spirits, but rather with lowliness of mind we esteem our brothers and sisters better than we do ourselves.
Philippians 2:3-4, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Acts 2:3, “Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.”
Every time I read the first few verses of the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, and this is without fail, I get goose bumps. It is simultaneously exciting and humbling to see the exact moment when a new era in human history as well as in the work of God began. The era I speak of, is of course the age of the Holy Spirit, an age which contrary to some didn’t last for a day, a week or a generation, but that is to this day continuing and will continue until the day the Master stands and closes the door.
Luke 13:24-25, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. Once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from.’”
The advent of the Holy Spirit is one of five completed works of God in the world. The first of these works was of course the Son of God coming in the flesh, the second, His work of redemption on the cross, the third, His resurrection, the fourth His ascension into heaven, and the fifth the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. There is as yet a sixth aspect of the work of God in the world that has not come to pass, and that is the return of Christ Jesus at which time He will gather His elect from the four corners of the earth.
Ask anyone how they would react if they were in a room with one hundred nineteen other people and suddenly they saw tongues as of fire appearing on each of them, and you will get a wide variety of answers, from being shocked, to panicking, to yelling at people telling them they were on fire. The fact that they weren’t all running around trying to put out the ‘fire’, the fact that they didn’t panic upon hearing the sound as of a rushing mighty wind tells me that the individuals gathered in the upper room trusted God implicitly. They had not been told what to expect, the details of what was occurring had not been made known to them, all they had been told was to wait until the promise came, and the way in which it came was in no way subtle or subdued.
The first part of that which took place on the day of Pentecost was the baptism with the Holy Spirit, poured out over the entire Congregation of God that had assembled there, and the second part of the selfsame work were the distribution of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, given to each believer individually. The divided tongues, as of fire, sat upon each of them, even though the sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind filled the whole house where they were sitting.
The first part of this great work shows us the birth of the Body of Christ, and the second part shows us the responsibility and duty each individual member has in regards to building the Body and doing the work of God here on earth.
The baptism with the Holy Spirit shows us, and clearly so the indestructible unity between the Body, which is the church, and the head of the Body which is Christ. It is a living unity, never before seen in the history of mankind. Yes, there were believers and men of God even before the advent of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, there were men led by the Holy Spirit such as Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Jeremiah, Daniel, Isaiah, Elijah, and Elisha, men who walked with God, and heard from God, and through whom God did great and mighty works, but they were never part of the Body which has Christ Jesus as the head.
When the tongues as of fire appeared, and divided themselves they sat upon each of them, not differentiating between man and woman, because in Christ we are one, and God does not discriminate in such ways.
Galatians 3:26-28, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
When the Holy Spirit was poured out, it was not only for the Apostles, it was not only for the elders or the bishops, it was not only for the men amidst the congregation of believers, it was for all those who were present, who were there in one accord awaiting the promise of Christ.
Another teachable moment, at least from my perspective is the fact that all those who were present saw the tongues as of fire sitting atop their brethren and not atop themselves. They couldn’t look in a mirror to make sure that a tongue as of fire had settled upon them as well, but they knew that because they saw it atop everyone else that it was likewise atop them. Those who are born again, and have received the Holy Spirit, know those who are born again and are of the same Spirit. We are one in Christ, united in Him, and as such our own ambitions or exalted opinions of self must be mortified along with our flesh. We do not consider ourselves greater than our brethren if by the will of God we have been granted a gift, we do not consider ourselves greater than our brethren if we have been given to prophecy or dream dreams, or discern spirits, but rather with lowliness of mind we esteem our brothers and sisters better than we do ourselves.
Philippians 2:3-4, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
The Holy Spirit: Power Presence and Purpose Part 41
The Advent Part 33
Acts 2:2, “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.”
Just as in the beginning of physical creation wherein light and life were not possible on earth until the Spirit of God came and hovered above the face of the waters, everything up to that point being without form and void, so it was in the beginning of spiritual creation that the Holy Spirit needed to descend from heaven and bring new life, because the price of mankind’s redemption had been paid in full on the cross.
A new and peculiar people were about to be born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. These were to be God’s own people, sanctified and set apart to Him, righteous and holy and full of the power of the Spirit of God.
As one famed theologian so aptly stated, ‘Pentecost was the continuation of the work that began on Golgotha, the work of new life, the work of resurrection and power.’
The Apostles and all those that made up the small band of one hundred and twenty believers, waited patiently for the promise of the Father, just as Jesus had commanded them to do. They neither knew the day nor the hour of when this promise would be fulfilled, but they knew without doubt that it would.
The sound from heaven came suddenly, as of a rushing mighty wind, but this was no wind. It filled the house where they were sitting, engulfing those who were present, submerging them, and as suddenly as the sound came from heaven, those gathered in the upper room were born again, and they became the Congregation of God, the Body of Christ.
It is of this particular moment that Paul would later write, and remind those to whom he was writing, and by extension reminding us, that by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.
1 Corinthians 12:13, “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – whether Jew or Greeks whether slaves of free – and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.”
As previously mentioned the number twelve signifies that which was completed, or that which forms a whole, it is interesting that in the upper room there were one hundred and twenty individuals, which if my multiplication skills are as keen as in my youth is 12X10.
It was only the Holy Spirit, and the power thereof that could have transformed a group of believers into the Congregation of God, the holy people of the New Covenant through which God would commence His work throughout the earth.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not a work that can be initiated by man or performed by man, but it is wholly a work of God. It is God that baptizes, it is God that pours out, and it is God that fills us. Our duty as believers, as faithful followers of Christ is to make certain that our vessels are clean and ready to receive that which God, in His time, will pour out.
Before the Day of Pentecost, and the advent of the Holy Spirit the emphasis was placed on the word ‘ask.’
Luke 11:13, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
After the advent of the Holy Spirit however, the emphasis is placed on the word ‘receive.’
Acts 2:38-39, “Then Peter said to them, ‘repent, and let everyone 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 your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord God will call.’”
We are no longer living in the time of the promise, but rather we are living in the time of the fulfillment of the promise of God. Yes, the Holy Spirit is available to all those who repent and are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. Yes, we as believers have access to the gifts and the power of the Holy Spirit, because we are part of those who are afar off, those whom the Lord God has called, just as Peter stated.
It is doubt that keeps us from experiencing the fullness of the Holy Spirit, it is doubt that keeps us from knowing the promise of God personally and intimately, because once we have believed and repented and been baptized, the Word tells us that we shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Because of preconceived notions, and denominational walls we deny even the possibility of knowing the presence of the Holy Spirit as the primary church did. Rather than press in, rather than seek out, rather than go to the Word and see what it has to say concerning this great and precious gift, we’ve grown content with the ‘God doesn’t do that anymore’ mentality, and have resigned ourselves to being less than what God intended His children to be.
The Word doesn’t say that ‘we might’ it doesn’t say that ‘it is possible’ the Word doesn’t say ‘there’s a good chance’, but rather, it says that we shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. I stress this point, because of the countless number of believers that wander about powerless, and absent of authority, believing that all there is to this faith, all there is to the Christian walk is potluck dinners, Sunday service, and special Christian concerts.
We, the children of God were meant for so much more, we were meant to walk in authority, we were meant to walk in power, we were meant to be the vessels through which God would do great and mighty works that the world might know we are His, and that He is in us.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Acts 2:2, “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.”
Just as in the beginning of physical creation wherein light and life were not possible on earth until the Spirit of God came and hovered above the face of the waters, everything up to that point being without form and void, so it was in the beginning of spiritual creation that the Holy Spirit needed to descend from heaven and bring new life, because the price of mankind’s redemption had been paid in full on the cross.
A new and peculiar people were about to be born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. These were to be God’s own people, sanctified and set apart to Him, righteous and holy and full of the power of the Spirit of God.
As one famed theologian so aptly stated, ‘Pentecost was the continuation of the work that began on Golgotha, the work of new life, the work of resurrection and power.’
The Apostles and all those that made up the small band of one hundred and twenty believers, waited patiently for the promise of the Father, just as Jesus had commanded them to do. They neither knew the day nor the hour of when this promise would be fulfilled, but they knew without doubt that it would.
The sound from heaven came suddenly, as of a rushing mighty wind, but this was no wind. It filled the house where they were sitting, engulfing those who were present, submerging them, and as suddenly as the sound came from heaven, those gathered in the upper room were born again, and they became the Congregation of God, the Body of Christ.
It is of this particular moment that Paul would later write, and remind those to whom he was writing, and by extension reminding us, that by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.
1 Corinthians 12:13, “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – whether Jew or Greeks whether slaves of free – and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.”
As previously mentioned the number twelve signifies that which was completed, or that which forms a whole, it is interesting that in the upper room there were one hundred and twenty individuals, which if my multiplication skills are as keen as in my youth is 12X10.
It was only the Holy Spirit, and the power thereof that could have transformed a group of believers into the Congregation of God, the holy people of the New Covenant through which God would commence His work throughout the earth.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not a work that can be initiated by man or performed by man, but it is wholly a work of God. It is God that baptizes, it is God that pours out, and it is God that fills us. Our duty as believers, as faithful followers of Christ is to make certain that our vessels are clean and ready to receive that which God, in His time, will pour out.
Before the Day of Pentecost, and the advent of the Holy Spirit the emphasis was placed on the word ‘ask.’
Luke 11:13, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
After the advent of the Holy Spirit however, the emphasis is placed on the word ‘receive.’
Acts 2:38-39, “Then Peter said to them, ‘repent, and let everyone 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 your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord God will call.’”
We are no longer living in the time of the promise, but rather we are living in the time of the fulfillment of the promise of God. Yes, the Holy Spirit is available to all those who repent and are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. Yes, we as believers have access to the gifts and the power of the Holy Spirit, because we are part of those who are afar off, those whom the Lord God has called, just as Peter stated.
It is doubt that keeps us from experiencing the fullness of the Holy Spirit, it is doubt that keeps us from knowing the promise of God personally and intimately, because once we have believed and repented and been baptized, the Word tells us that we shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Because of preconceived notions, and denominational walls we deny even the possibility of knowing the presence of the Holy Spirit as the primary church did. Rather than press in, rather than seek out, rather than go to the Word and see what it has to say concerning this great and precious gift, we’ve grown content with the ‘God doesn’t do that anymore’ mentality, and have resigned ourselves to being less than what God intended His children to be.
The Word doesn’t say that ‘we might’ it doesn’t say that ‘it is possible’ the Word doesn’t say ‘there’s a good chance’, but rather, it says that we shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. I stress this point, because of the countless number of believers that wander about powerless, and absent of authority, believing that all there is to this faith, all there is to the Christian walk is potluck dinners, Sunday service, and special Christian concerts.
We, the children of God were meant for so much more, we were meant to walk in authority, we were meant to walk in power, we were meant to be the vessels through which God would do great and mighty works that the world might know we are His, and that He is in us.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Friday, September 9, 2011
The Holy Spirit: Power Presence and Purpose Part 40
The Advent Part 32
Acts 2:1, “Now when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.”
The first two chapters of the Acts of the Apostles cover two principal works in the plan of God. First, Christ Jesus ascends into heaven, and second, the Holy Spirit descends from heaven. The second chapter of this holy book is as a delineation marker, a border that divides human history into two. The first of these groupings are known as the descendants of the first Adam, through which sin and death entered the world, and the second grouping is known as the followers of the second Adam, Christ Jesus, through which forgiveness and new life was made possible. It is on this day that the age of grace begins, it is on this day that the promise of God is fulfilled, and the Holy Spirit fills those who are present with power and authority.
Before we go into the details of what happened on the day of Pentecost, I wanted to discuss if only briefly what the day of Pentecost was and still is.
If we study the Word thoroughly we come to realize that the word ‘Pentecost’ is never once mentioned in the Old Testament. Pentecost is derived from the word fifty in Greek, meaning that fifty days after the great celebration or feast of the Passover, God had ordained another celebration or feast for His people. It is a feast which was established in the Old Testament, a feast commanded of God in the book of Leviticus.
Leviticus 23:16-17, “Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the Lord. You shall bring from your habitations two wave loaves of two-tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven. They are the firstfuits to the Lord.”
This particular feast has been known by different names throughout Jewish history. In Exodus this feast was known as the Feast of Harvest, and in Numbers, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy as the Feast of Firstfuits or the Feast of Weeks.
It was also on this day that the Jews celebrated receiving the law of God given through Moses on Mount Sinai. God had not mandated this, but since Moses received the laws fifty days after Israel escaped the shackles of Egypt, it became a tradition, and so was celebrated on the same day as Pentecost.
On the Day of Pentecost, just as they would on Passover, Jews from throughout the land and even beyond the borders of Israel would come to Jerusalem. Many would travel great distances, even from other nations, just to come and celebrate these feasts, and if we take into account that their only mode of transportation was limited to walking or drawn carriage, we realize that it was no easy thing. Such pilgrimages were planned far in advance, and pilgrims would begin their journey many days before they were to be present for the celebration.
Statistically speaking, whether due to the good weather, or heretofore unknown variables, more people would come for the Day of Pentecost, than they would for the Passover. If a census taken during the time of Nero is any indication, the number of pilgrims that came to Jerusalem for the Passover was no less than two and a half million souls. I believe the exact number was closer to 2.7 million people, but it has been awhile since I’ve read up on that particular moment in history.
Jerusalem was packed, pilgrims from near and far had gathered for the Day of Pentecost, yet in the upper room of a nondescript house, something world changing was about to occur. One hundred and twenty believers were gathered together, and yes, they were still with one accord. Perhaps some there would have preferred Barsabas over Matthias, perhaps others might have felt excluded because they had not been considered for the position, but their purpose went beyond that of whim and preference, and they remained united, steadfast and with one singular and unshakable goal.
Far too often the self stands in the way of the plan of God, far too often we place our own wants and desires above the will of God, yet if we are wise we will learn from those who came before us and realize that it’s never about us, it’s never about an individual, it’s never about our aspirations, it is always about the plan of God, the work of God, and the will of God, and if we are to be used of God then we have no other choice but to submit to His will.
Jesus offered Himself up as a sacrifice, He went to the cross, and suffered the pains of death so that we might all be gathered into one Body, yet it is this selfsame body that constantly wars against itself, it is this selfsame body that is perpetually divided and fractured.
John 11:51-52, “Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.”
The Body of Christ is a spiritual place, here on earth, where all who are born again must be gathered together, and the Body is one with the Head. It is not the name of the denomination we belong to that can unite the souls of the faithful and make them one, but rather only Christ Jesus, and living in Him can accomplish this beautiful and awe inspiring task. We are one in Christ, regardless of our nationality, regardless of our geographical location, regardless of our denomination, and if we hold to anything whether it be nationality, race, or denomination more than we do to Jesus, then we are not one with Him.
Jesus unites us, Jesus binds us, Jesus makes us one, and as such we must lift high the name of Jesus, and see Him in each other.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Acts 2:1, “Now when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.”
The first two chapters of the Acts of the Apostles cover two principal works in the plan of God. First, Christ Jesus ascends into heaven, and second, the Holy Spirit descends from heaven. The second chapter of this holy book is as a delineation marker, a border that divides human history into two. The first of these groupings are known as the descendants of the first Adam, through which sin and death entered the world, and the second grouping is known as the followers of the second Adam, Christ Jesus, through which forgiveness and new life was made possible. It is on this day that the age of grace begins, it is on this day that the promise of God is fulfilled, and the Holy Spirit fills those who are present with power and authority.
Before we go into the details of what happened on the day of Pentecost, I wanted to discuss if only briefly what the day of Pentecost was and still is.
If we study the Word thoroughly we come to realize that the word ‘Pentecost’ is never once mentioned in the Old Testament. Pentecost is derived from the word fifty in Greek, meaning that fifty days after the great celebration or feast of the Passover, God had ordained another celebration or feast for His people. It is a feast which was established in the Old Testament, a feast commanded of God in the book of Leviticus.
Leviticus 23:16-17, “Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the Lord. You shall bring from your habitations two wave loaves of two-tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven. They are the firstfuits to the Lord.”
This particular feast has been known by different names throughout Jewish history. In Exodus this feast was known as the Feast of Harvest, and in Numbers, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy as the Feast of Firstfuits or the Feast of Weeks.
It was also on this day that the Jews celebrated receiving the law of God given through Moses on Mount Sinai. God had not mandated this, but since Moses received the laws fifty days after Israel escaped the shackles of Egypt, it became a tradition, and so was celebrated on the same day as Pentecost.
On the Day of Pentecost, just as they would on Passover, Jews from throughout the land and even beyond the borders of Israel would come to Jerusalem. Many would travel great distances, even from other nations, just to come and celebrate these feasts, and if we take into account that their only mode of transportation was limited to walking or drawn carriage, we realize that it was no easy thing. Such pilgrimages were planned far in advance, and pilgrims would begin their journey many days before they were to be present for the celebration.
Statistically speaking, whether due to the good weather, or heretofore unknown variables, more people would come for the Day of Pentecost, than they would for the Passover. If a census taken during the time of Nero is any indication, the number of pilgrims that came to Jerusalem for the Passover was no less than two and a half million souls. I believe the exact number was closer to 2.7 million people, but it has been awhile since I’ve read up on that particular moment in history.
Jerusalem was packed, pilgrims from near and far had gathered for the Day of Pentecost, yet in the upper room of a nondescript house, something world changing was about to occur. One hundred and twenty believers were gathered together, and yes, they were still with one accord. Perhaps some there would have preferred Barsabas over Matthias, perhaps others might have felt excluded because they had not been considered for the position, but their purpose went beyond that of whim and preference, and they remained united, steadfast and with one singular and unshakable goal.
Far too often the self stands in the way of the plan of God, far too often we place our own wants and desires above the will of God, yet if we are wise we will learn from those who came before us and realize that it’s never about us, it’s never about an individual, it’s never about our aspirations, it is always about the plan of God, the work of God, and the will of God, and if we are to be used of God then we have no other choice but to submit to His will.
Jesus offered Himself up as a sacrifice, He went to the cross, and suffered the pains of death so that we might all be gathered into one Body, yet it is this selfsame body that constantly wars against itself, it is this selfsame body that is perpetually divided and fractured.
John 11:51-52, “Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.”
The Body of Christ is a spiritual place, here on earth, where all who are born again must be gathered together, and the Body is one with the Head. It is not the name of the denomination we belong to that can unite the souls of the faithful and make them one, but rather only Christ Jesus, and living in Him can accomplish this beautiful and awe inspiring task. We are one in Christ, regardless of our nationality, regardless of our geographical location, regardless of our denomination, and if we hold to anything whether it be nationality, race, or denomination more than we do to Jesus, then we are not one with Him.
Jesus unites us, Jesus binds us, Jesus makes us one, and as such we must lift high the name of Jesus, and see Him in each other.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
The Holy Spirit: Power Presence and Purpose Part 39
The Advent Part 31
Acts 1:23-26, “And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, ‘You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.’ And they cast lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.”
At the time of their choosing who the twelfth apostle would be, the Holy Spirit had as yet not descended from heaven, and being uncertain as to which one they should choose, they brought two men before the congregation. As yet, the apostles still operated in the way of the Old Testament, and so they decided to pray and cast lots to see whom God would choose from among the two that had been selected to replace Judas.
Whenever we do the work of God, caution is always a prerequisite. No matter how well intentioned we might be, no matter how much we think we know the mind of God, it is best to make certain that God is the one leading, God is the one choosing, and God is the one inspiring.
Since both men were equally up to the task of being the twelfth apostle and I say this because it is evident that they met all the prerequisites of filling the vacant position, and the apostles could not choose between them, they decided to come before God and ask Him to make this difficult yet important decision.
The apostles had done their part, as much as they could, they chose the two men, and now it was up to God to choose from among the two.
First, was Barsabas, meaning son of return, or son of rest, and second was Matthias, meaning gift from God.
The prayer that was prayed was direct and straightforward, absent of ambiguity. The apostles knew that whomever God chose, there would be no hurt feelings, there would be no disappointments because they were all brothers in the same cause, and their purpose was to lift high the name of Jesus and not themselves. They knew that the choice God would make would be the best choice, in fact the only choice and they likewise knew that though they might err in their thinking, though they might have chosen wrong, God would neither err nor make the wrong choice.
Whenever we are confronted with decisions that are difficult to make, whenever we are confronted with the notion of having to choose between two almost identical things, it is best, and wise to take it before God and ask Him to choose on our behalf. He will never make the wrong choice, He will never lead us down the wrong path, and He will never ask us to do something that will turn out to be in our detriment.
After they prayed the apostles cast lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. Although casting lots is mentioned some seventy times in the Old Testament, what it is that it actually entailed, or what the lots actually were remains unknown. People have speculated, as people are fond of doing, saying that the lots were sticks of various lengths, some kind of dice, or some sort of flat stone like coins, but in reality these are just guesses.
What we do know with certainty is that the custom or tradition of casting lots was no longer used in the Bible as pertains to the work of God after the advent of the Holy Spirit. As such, we can infer that since the advent of the Holy Spirit this practice ought not to be used any longer among believers, even though it was customary and often used in the Old Testament. Now we have the anointing, we have the Holy Spirit, and it is the anointing that teaches us and directs us.
1 John 2:27, “But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.”
John 16:13, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”
Matthias replaced Judas the fallen, being numbered among the twelve, who were witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus. God chose Matthias. It was not Peter, it was not James, it was not Andrew it was God. At the time Paul was not numbered among the twelve, since his conversion came later, and he was considered apostle to the Gentiles. In Biblical symbolism as we know, the number twelve symbolizes the number of what is completed, that which forms a whole, or a perfect and harmonious unit. The number of the twelve apostles was now complete, because it was the number that Christ established as the foundation of His church.
With this handful of souls, through the power of the Holy Spirit, with signs and wonders following, God was about to change the world. It doesn’t take an army for God to do a great work; it doesn’t take masses of individuals for God to reach a certain city or a certain nation. In God’s economy numbers mean very little, in fact they are downright irrelevant. What does matter to God, what God must have without equivocation is faithful, humble, obedient and fully committed souls who have already forfeited this life, who have surrendered their all that they might obtain His all, and who will stand for truth no matter the cost. God is still looking for laborers, not because He needs great numbers, but because He is particular and selective when choosing those whom He sends into His harvest field. Yes, the harvest is plentiful, but fewer and fewer individuals are willing to labor in order to bring that harvest in. May God give us hearts of compassion that we might not beg off labor thinking that we are management material and laboring is beneath us, but that we faithfully set about doing what God requires of us with joy and thankfulness of heart.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Acts 1:23-26, “And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, ‘You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.’ And they cast lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.”
At the time of their choosing who the twelfth apostle would be, the Holy Spirit had as yet not descended from heaven, and being uncertain as to which one they should choose, they brought two men before the congregation. As yet, the apostles still operated in the way of the Old Testament, and so they decided to pray and cast lots to see whom God would choose from among the two that had been selected to replace Judas.
Whenever we do the work of God, caution is always a prerequisite. No matter how well intentioned we might be, no matter how much we think we know the mind of God, it is best to make certain that God is the one leading, God is the one choosing, and God is the one inspiring.
Since both men were equally up to the task of being the twelfth apostle and I say this because it is evident that they met all the prerequisites of filling the vacant position, and the apostles could not choose between them, they decided to come before God and ask Him to make this difficult yet important decision.
The apostles had done their part, as much as they could, they chose the two men, and now it was up to God to choose from among the two.
First, was Barsabas, meaning son of return, or son of rest, and second was Matthias, meaning gift from God.
The prayer that was prayed was direct and straightforward, absent of ambiguity. The apostles knew that whomever God chose, there would be no hurt feelings, there would be no disappointments because they were all brothers in the same cause, and their purpose was to lift high the name of Jesus and not themselves. They knew that the choice God would make would be the best choice, in fact the only choice and they likewise knew that though they might err in their thinking, though they might have chosen wrong, God would neither err nor make the wrong choice.
Whenever we are confronted with decisions that are difficult to make, whenever we are confronted with the notion of having to choose between two almost identical things, it is best, and wise to take it before God and ask Him to choose on our behalf. He will never make the wrong choice, He will never lead us down the wrong path, and He will never ask us to do something that will turn out to be in our detriment.
After they prayed the apostles cast lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. Although casting lots is mentioned some seventy times in the Old Testament, what it is that it actually entailed, or what the lots actually were remains unknown. People have speculated, as people are fond of doing, saying that the lots were sticks of various lengths, some kind of dice, or some sort of flat stone like coins, but in reality these are just guesses.
What we do know with certainty is that the custom or tradition of casting lots was no longer used in the Bible as pertains to the work of God after the advent of the Holy Spirit. As such, we can infer that since the advent of the Holy Spirit this practice ought not to be used any longer among believers, even though it was customary and often used in the Old Testament. Now we have the anointing, we have the Holy Spirit, and it is the anointing that teaches us and directs us.
1 John 2:27, “But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.”
John 16:13, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”
Matthias replaced Judas the fallen, being numbered among the twelve, who were witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus. God chose Matthias. It was not Peter, it was not James, it was not Andrew it was God. At the time Paul was not numbered among the twelve, since his conversion came later, and he was considered apostle to the Gentiles. In Biblical symbolism as we know, the number twelve symbolizes the number of what is completed, that which forms a whole, or a perfect and harmonious unit. The number of the twelve apostles was now complete, because it was the number that Christ established as the foundation of His church.
With this handful of souls, through the power of the Holy Spirit, with signs and wonders following, God was about to change the world. It doesn’t take an army for God to do a great work; it doesn’t take masses of individuals for God to reach a certain city or a certain nation. In God’s economy numbers mean very little, in fact they are downright irrelevant. What does matter to God, what God must have without equivocation is faithful, humble, obedient and fully committed souls who have already forfeited this life, who have surrendered their all that they might obtain His all, and who will stand for truth no matter the cost. God is still looking for laborers, not because He needs great numbers, but because He is particular and selective when choosing those whom He sends into His harvest field. Yes, the harvest is plentiful, but fewer and fewer individuals are willing to labor in order to bring that harvest in. May God give us hearts of compassion that we might not beg off labor thinking that we are management material and laboring is beneath us, but that we faithfully set about doing what God requires of us with joy and thankfulness of heart.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
The Holy Spirit: Power Presence and Purpose Part 38
The Advent Part 30
So why was it important for the one that was to be chosen to take Judas’s place among the twelve to have been present from the baptism of John? The person that was to be chosen needed to have been present, because the baptism of John was the visible sign of the beginning of Christ’s ministry as Messiah among the people of Israel. When Jesus came to be baptized by John, it showed His submission to the will of the Father, and He received the testimony of heaven that He was indeed the Son of God.
Matthew 3:16-17, “Then Jesus, when He had been baptized, 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.’”
These men were true witnesses, ones who had seen, from the beginning all that Jesus had done, ones who had heard all that Jesus had said, and who had witnessed the miracles that He performed. Their faith needed to be unshakable, their resolve needed to be unwavering, and their testimony needed to be blameless, because they knew what they must endure for the cause of Christ. They realized early on that this would not be a jaunt down a rose petal covered alley; this would not be an easy endeavor, because they had seen what had been done to Jesus. They had witnessed Him being falsely accused, they had witnessed Him being beaten and bruised, they had witnessed Him being nailed to a cross, and they realized that if their Master, their Rabbi endured such things, then they would not be spared by any means.
The words of Jesus still rang in their ears, they knew that anyone who would not forsake all was not worthy of Him, they knew that anyone who desired to follow after the Christ needed to deny themselves, pick up their crosses and walk the narrow path of faith, they knew what they were getting into. The fact that they would later endure hardship, tribulation, persecution, and even martyrdom did not come as a surprise to these men, yet the counted it all loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus.
The one that was to be chosen would be a witness with the other Apostles of Christ’s resurrection. They would not be witnesses of His good works, they would not be witnesses of His wise words, they would not be witnesses of His gentle heart, they would be witnesses of the one thing that testified to His Godhood, that of being raised from the dead, and ascending into heaven. The Pharisees had no problem with good works, they had no problem with wise words, they did however have a problem with the fact that Jesus had risen from the dead, His tomb was empty, and His followers preached a resurrected Christ.
The resurrection of Christ proves powerfully and clearly that He is the Son of God, the true Christ, that there is a resurrection of the dead, and that there is eternal life in Him.
Romans 1:1-5, “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, through whom we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ.”
The fact that the Son of man, Jesus of Nazareth, lived, preached, performed miracles, loved us, and died, would not have such great significance for us, or for mankind as a whole if He would not have also been raised from the dead, if He would not have also been Lord, King and the Christ of which the prophets of old prophesied.
It is with great boldness and courage born of conviction that the Apostles declared to all who would hear, that God raised Jesus from the dead, and they were witnesses to this fact. The first witness, the first testimony upon which the entirety of the Church and the entirety of the Body of Christ rests is the reality of His resurrection.
Death could not hold Him, for He conquered it, and we as His disciples, we as His followers will likewise conquer death for when Christ our life appears, we will also appear with Him in glory.
1 Corinthians 15:19-22, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead and has become the firstfuits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as is in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.”
So the next time you hear someone, and I’ve heard the following from preachers who ought to know better as well, that Jesus was a great teacher, a good and noble man, a prophet even, but to call Him the only begotten Son of God, and the only means by which man may attain salvation would be going one step too far, either walk out, or rebuke them in Jesus’ name.
These men who comprised the primary church went to their deaths because they remained steadfast in their testimony concerning the resurrection of Christ. All but one of the Apostles suffered horrible deaths, because they would not compromise the absolute truth that Jesus is the only way to salvation, and the only means by which man may be reconciled to God. No one is threatening our preachers with jail, never mind death or torture, yet they voluntarily deny the singularity of Jesus, and the fact that He is the only way, and the only truth and the only life.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
So why was it important for the one that was to be chosen to take Judas’s place among the twelve to have been present from the baptism of John? The person that was to be chosen needed to have been present, because the baptism of John was the visible sign of the beginning of Christ’s ministry as Messiah among the people of Israel. When Jesus came to be baptized by John, it showed His submission to the will of the Father, and He received the testimony of heaven that He was indeed the Son of God.
Matthew 3:16-17, “Then Jesus, when He had been baptized, 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.’”
These men were true witnesses, ones who had seen, from the beginning all that Jesus had done, ones who had heard all that Jesus had said, and who had witnessed the miracles that He performed. Their faith needed to be unshakable, their resolve needed to be unwavering, and their testimony needed to be blameless, because they knew what they must endure for the cause of Christ. They realized early on that this would not be a jaunt down a rose petal covered alley; this would not be an easy endeavor, because they had seen what had been done to Jesus. They had witnessed Him being falsely accused, they had witnessed Him being beaten and bruised, they had witnessed Him being nailed to a cross, and they realized that if their Master, their Rabbi endured such things, then they would not be spared by any means.
The words of Jesus still rang in their ears, they knew that anyone who would not forsake all was not worthy of Him, they knew that anyone who desired to follow after the Christ needed to deny themselves, pick up their crosses and walk the narrow path of faith, they knew what they were getting into. The fact that they would later endure hardship, tribulation, persecution, and even martyrdom did not come as a surprise to these men, yet the counted it all loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus.
The one that was to be chosen would be a witness with the other Apostles of Christ’s resurrection. They would not be witnesses of His good works, they would not be witnesses of His wise words, they would not be witnesses of His gentle heart, they would be witnesses of the one thing that testified to His Godhood, that of being raised from the dead, and ascending into heaven. The Pharisees had no problem with good works, they had no problem with wise words, they did however have a problem with the fact that Jesus had risen from the dead, His tomb was empty, and His followers preached a resurrected Christ.
The resurrection of Christ proves powerfully and clearly that He is the Son of God, the true Christ, that there is a resurrection of the dead, and that there is eternal life in Him.
Romans 1:1-5, “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, through whom we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ.”
The fact that the Son of man, Jesus of Nazareth, lived, preached, performed miracles, loved us, and died, would not have such great significance for us, or for mankind as a whole if He would not have also been raised from the dead, if He would not have also been Lord, King and the Christ of which the prophets of old prophesied.
It is with great boldness and courage born of conviction that the Apostles declared to all who would hear, that God raised Jesus from the dead, and they were witnesses to this fact. The first witness, the first testimony upon which the entirety of the Church and the entirety of the Body of Christ rests is the reality of His resurrection.
Death could not hold Him, for He conquered it, and we as His disciples, we as His followers will likewise conquer death for when Christ our life appears, we will also appear with Him in glory.
1 Corinthians 15:19-22, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead and has become the firstfuits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as is in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.”
So the next time you hear someone, and I’ve heard the following from preachers who ought to know better as well, that Jesus was a great teacher, a good and noble man, a prophet even, but to call Him the only begotten Son of God, and the only means by which man may attain salvation would be going one step too far, either walk out, or rebuke them in Jesus’ name.
These men who comprised the primary church went to their deaths because they remained steadfast in their testimony concerning the resurrection of Christ. All but one of the Apostles suffered horrible deaths, because they would not compromise the absolute truth that Jesus is the only way to salvation, and the only means by which man may be reconciled to God. No one is threatening our preachers with jail, never mind death or torture, yet they voluntarily deny the singularity of Jesus, and the fact that He is the only way, and the only truth and the only life.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
