Not By Might, Nor By Power, But By My Spirit, Saith the Lord of Hosts - Part 1450

Then they that gladly received His Word were baptized; and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together and had all things common. (Acts 2:36-47)

And continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God. As a consequence, the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved! This all happened on the day of Pentecost wherein Peter (standing with the eleven) told those who asked what they must do for salvation, to repent and be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:36-38)

This should serve as our starting point of our faith journey, learning that this same Jesus whom was crucified is now both our Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36) As we move forward studying the Word to show ourselves approved unto God, we see examples of how our faith walk should look. There is one example that I would like to focus on this day. I hope you are as edified in understanding that in everything we do, should always be in the Name of Jesus the Christ.

There was a certain man, lame from his mother's womb who was laid daily at the gate of a temple. It is there that he expected to receive some money from those who passed by. As it so happened, Peter and John about to enter the temple were asked to give money. Instead, Peter and John (in surmising the situation) said to the man, "Look on us."

The man did as Peter had said, still expecting to receive from them financial sustenance. However, as we read in the scriptures, Peter said to the man, "I do not have any silver or gold to give you (imagine - expectancy dashed) BUT what I do have I give to you (expectancy faith arises) - “In the Name of JESUS the Christ, rise up and walk!"

Peter, stretching forth his right arm assisted the man to his feet. Immediately, the man’s feet and ankle bones received strength. The man started leaping and standing and walking going straight into the temple. In the temple, he continued leaping and walking, praising God as he went. The people watched as he continued praising God!

Likewise, JESUS when He walked upon earth went about doing good. As He went, He healed all who came to Him with expectancy (faith). Indeed, the New Testament is full of testimonials whereby JESUS delivered and healed all those who came to Him with expectancy of faith. Persons who were oppressed of the devil.

How could this be? The Spirit of God was in the man JESUS. Yes! God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself.

The God who indwelt the man JESUS the Christ is the very same today as He was in the scriptures. He has not changed. For God remains the same today as He was yesterday. And, as a consequence, we can have expectancy of faith (confidence) that tomorrow God will be unchanged. Recall at Calvary when JESUS in His body bore all of our sin? And with the stripes laid upon His back - those stripes that He received were for our healing?

So just because we do not visibly see JESUS is no reason to believe that He is absent from us. For in Acts chapter 1, we read that the same JESUS who ascended is the same One who has once again descended. Only this time JESUS was NOT TO BE WITH MAN! Oh no! This time, JESUS is to DWELL INSIDE MAN.

Expectant believers being baptized into His death are of God “Raised Again” as new individuals! Renewed. Believing persons are grafted into HIS spiritual body, becoming members of His bone and of His flesh. In feature, we still bear the image of the first Adam. Earthly. However, spiritually we are no longer his offspring. Instead, we have been redeemed by the blood of His Holy Spirit -- the Holy Ghost -- which blood flowed in JESUS veins and which blood was poured from His body at Calvary (paying for our transgressions in full)!

This is why we now are the body of the same JESUS who laid down His life for us. Now He inhabits us even as He had His own natural body whilst He dwelt among us. He has bequeathed His inheritance to us! His LAST WILL He has SEALED in His own blood!

For you and I. The greatest love story ever told.

"And for this cause, He is the Mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator lives. Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood." (Hebrews 9:15-18)

Who is He? God our Saviour. His Name is Jesus the Christ in this current dispensation of grace. He is the One who will lead and guide you into all truth and knowledge, when we dwell in His secret hiding place with His Word.

"And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus; and great grace was upon them all." (Acts 4:33)

Stand in the offering plate.