Lord, Thou Hast Been Our Dwelling Place In All Generations; From Everlasting To Everlasting, Thou Art God! - Part 1987

"The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after that He through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen: to whom also He shewed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: and, being assembled together with [them], commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, "which," [saith He], "ye have heard of Me." For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." (Acts 1:1-5)

Then remembered I the Word of the Lord, how that He [Jesus] said, "John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as [He did] unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ: what was I, that I could withstand God?" (Acts 11:16-17)

"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:4)

Then, as the scripture saith, "hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life." (Acts 11:18) 

The promise of salvation and everlasting life extended to each and every one of us, when we believe in our hearts that Jesus was He. After His kindness and love, God our Saviour toward man appeared. (Titus 3:4-7) The same Spirit of the Lord God who created this world in the very beginning loved us enough to prepare a body for Himself for sacrifice, so that we might find abundant life in Him. Oh how He must have grieved from the foundation of the earth.

And yet, still, the Word made flesh and dwelt among us so that we behold His glory! To wit, God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. God manifest in the flesh. So our hearts too, like Mary did, could rejoice in God our Saviour. (II Corinthians 5:19; John 1:1-18; John 1:10-11; I Timothy 3:16; Revelation 1:8; Isaiah 9:6)

In so doing, He willingly delivered unto us the greatest love story ever told to mankind -- one that He continues to write day in and day out in our hearts! Why? Because His love toward us dictated the shedding of His own precious holy blood on a cross so that we might have abundant life in Him. The Great Shepherd, the Great I AM laying down His humanity once and for all -- for His enemies. 

But He did not stop with His offer of salvation, even when that act alone is more than sufficient. Rather, His love desire extended far beyond His free gift to us (but extremely costly to Him) sacrifice. That is, He willingly bestows upon those who believe in Him by faith and are baptized in His Name - the Name of the Lord Jesus - the infilling of His Spirit -- the Holy Ghost -- His power and wisdom so that we can too (like the disciples/apostles) be of one accord. (Acts 2:36-47)

Jesus told His disciples in advance, "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 Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." And when He [Jesus] had spoken these things, while they beheld, He [Jesus] was taken up; and a cloud received Him [Jesus] out of their sight.

And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He [Jesus] went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." (Acts 1:10-12)

And, as Jesus promised, "there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:3-4; Acts 4:31; Acts 1:5; Mark 16:17)

But not everyone that hears the good news gospel message will believe. Sadly, there are those who only begin their faith journey with God, quickly to turn back to the things of this world. We see examples of both in Acts 19, and the results thereof.

Therein, it came to pass that while Apollos was at Corinth, apostle Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus and finding certain disciples, he said unto them, "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?" And they said unto Him, "We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost." And he said unto them, "Unto what then were ye baptized?" And they said, "Unto John's baptism."

Then said Paul, "John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on Him which should come after him, that is on Christ Jesus." When they heard this, they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus. Paul laid hands upon them and the Holy Ghost came on them, and they spake with tongues and prophesied. As the scriptures notes, there were about twelve men at this time.

In this same chapter, Paul then goes into the synagogue and for about the space of three months, disputes and persuades the things concerning the Kingdom of God. "But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus." (Acts 19:9)

And this continued for about the space of two years, so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the Word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. As well, God wrought special miracles by the hands of apostle Paul. For example, when Paul brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, the diseases departed from them and the evil went out from them and, as a consequence, the Word of God grew mightily in the hearts and minds of men.

This led to certain of the vagabond Jews -- exorcists which had evil spirits taking upon themselves to call over them the Name of the Lord Jesus, saying, "We adjure you by Jesus, whom Paul preaches," (Acts 19:10-13) Certainly, the seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew and chief of the priests did so. But the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know and Paul I know but who are ye?" 

And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this incident was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the Name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. In fact, many that believed came and confessed and showed their deeds. So mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed. (Acts 19:14-20)

But this is not the only scriptural example wherein divers turned away -- their hearts hardened, believing not the truth concerning the Kingdom of God and likewise, not holding fast the form of sound words. Paul writing to Timothy says, "This thou know, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes." (II Timothy 1:15) Moreover, we are instructed to "watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I [Paul] ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears." (Acts 20:31) "... who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some." (II Timothy 2:19) 

Nevertheless, the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, "The Lord knows them that are His." and, "Let every one that names the Name of Christ depart from iniquity." (II Timothy 2:19; I Corinthians 3:11) For if a man purge [cleanse] himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified and meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every good work. This is why we flee also youthful lusts; and follow righteousness; faith; charity; peace; and with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (II Timothy 2:19-22; I Timothy 6:11-12)

"That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwells within us." (II Timothy 1:14)

It is in this context that "these all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brethren." (Acts 1:14) And they let their "supplication come before Thee: deliver me according to Thy Word." (Psalm 119:170)

Paul continues, "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." (I Timothy 2:1-2)

And as a consequence, as prophesied from afore, as the Lord hath said, "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn." (Zachariah 12:10)

This is why we trust in the living God today, who gives us richly all things to enjoy that we may do good, that we may be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate, laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life." (I Timothy 6:17-21)

Stand in the offering plate.