The difference between before and after the Spirit came upon the disciples at Pentecost is awful to amazing. “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8 KJV). When we depend upon the Spirit working in us for everything, then the difference will be amazing. But, remember, God makes that determination. How do we know we’re depending on God for everything? When we continually come to Him for directions and help. If we can get sidetracked doing lesser things, we won’t be available to do the greater things. Allow everything to drive us back to God. Even the “butterfly effect,” the chaos theory of physics, where the simple flapping of a butterfly’s wings can be later responsible for much greater and larger consequences, should impress us of the value of our seemingly inconsequential labor for the LORD. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1Corinthians 15:58).
Promise of Victory
Satan’s Devices
“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2Corinthians 2:11 KJV). Paul warns the Corinthians from failing to restore a penitent backslider, lest they be “swallowed up with overmuch sorrow” (2:7). Satan’s devices are many: (1) our failure to acknowledge him as a continual, arch “adversary” (1Peter 5:8), (2) our lack of understanding him as a master “tempter” (Matthew 4:3; 1Thessalonians 3:5), (3) our not properly crediting him as the ruler of the “darkness of this world” (Ephesians 6:12), (4) our not acknowledging that earthly kingdoms belong to the “prince of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11), and (5) above all, our failure to properly acknowledge the devil’s necessity of gaining permission from the Almighty to do anything — “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). LORD, may You be magnified by the enemy fleeing from us. Amen.
Riddle of Life
Riddle me this. How can a disciple not experience physical death, yet every disciple, including the departed, put on immortality? Simple. Rapture and resurrection. Disciples who are physically alive, when the LORD returns will be raptured, that is, immediately caught up and transformed into someone with an immortal, undying body. Already departed disciples will be resurrected with also an immortal, undying body. “51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1Corinthians 15:51-55 KJV).
We Need A Miracle 