“Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6 KJV). God does not expect from us, what He does not expect from Himself — Finish the job! How can we expect to enter into Heaven, if we do not persevere to the end (Matthew 24:13; Romans 2:7; Revelation 3:11)? Do you say, it will happen anyway? But, if it took your cooperation and agreement for Him to begin the good work in you, why wouldn’t it take that cooperation to the end? It was never that we loved Him, but “He first loved us” (1John 4:19). Finishing the job and making it home to Heaven — sure, you must persevere — but, all the credit will be placed at the feet of our Lord, when we come into His heavenly presence. LORD, You were our help in ages past, and are our hope for years to come. Your Spirit working in us caused us to will and to do of Your good pleasure. Magnify Your name for every right hearted action of Your children. And, may every child of Yours justify the wisdom of Your decision to require us to persevere to the end, when we cross the Finish Line into Heaven. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen and amen.
Cooperate With the Holy Spirit
Awakening the Church
The Holy Spirit has always been the Church’s greatest secret, but especially for the fragmented Church, its greatest mystery. Our most valuable connections are not man’s devices, such as the internet or social media — which have their place — but the Holy Spirit. We are accustomed to other means because of their obvious utility. What has the Church always had as both its Source and resource, but the Holy Spirit? How did the Early Church achieve such incomprehensible results without our modern devices, but through the Holy Spirit? “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13 KJV). Disconnected from man’s devices, God is able to replicate and communicate His intentions and movement through the Holy Spirit. His Word is used to communicate to us by His Spirit. And, prayer is used to communicate with Him — and, to the rest of the Body of Christ. When His Spirit is moving upon us, then we can believe and pray He is similarly moving upon others. Use the assembling of the local church and the fellowship of disciples and believers, where possible and available, but do not neglect the Holy Spirit and prayer. Naturally, the enemy does not want us to fully appreciate our advantage. We neglect prayer because we do not well understand nor control it. “Through God we shall do valiantly: for He it is that shall tread down our enemies” (Psalm 60:12). LORD, inspire us to pray like we believe prayer is more effective and valuable than man’s devices. In Jesus’ name, we ask it. Amen.
Baptism: The Icing on the Cake
Other than the Lord’s Supper (known also as Communion or the Eucharist), Baptism is the other significant ordinance commanded by Christ, and historically much debated by the Church. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations [‘make disciples of all nations,’ NIV], baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:19 KJV). To clarify, we are to make disciples of all nations and baptize them. No single explanation on baptism will satisfy all religious traditions; but, for conscience sake, can anyone gain entry into the Body of Christ, while defying the command, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38)? To be clear, no one or no thing saves except Jesus. Even if baptism is considered as a condition of salvation, baptism is more than a personal decision, but the outward approval of those who do the baptizing that the recipient has indeed fulfilled the terms for salvation, i.e., we must cooperate with the Holy Spirit by (1) turning to Jesus and BELIEVING on Him to save us from our sins (Acts 16:31), (2) turning away from our sins by REPENTING of them entirely (Acts 2:38), (3) FORSAKING or be willing to forsake everything for Jesus (Luke 18:22), and (4) CONFESSING Jesus is now the Lord or boss of our life (Romans 10:9). LORD, may Your body of believing, practicing disciples find our agreement in Christ about baptism “that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:11). Amen and amen.
We Need A Miracle 