There Is No Love Like the Love of Jesus - PART 101

The Lord is my Shepherd! The written Word establishes that Christ is the Head of the church. The scriptures also establish that He alone saves. Indeed, on Him the safety of His body depends. Therefore, the church ought to be subject to Him and only Him. Why? For it is Christ who loves the church -- the betrothed bride. Further, it was Jesus that surrendered His own sinless body of flesh up to death for His betrothed. It was Jesus who counted His own sinless flesh body to be incomplete without the companionship of His betrothed. What would life be worth without you? Yes, you and you alone! Certainly, creation alone would not break the shackles of sin that had engulfed His one and only love.


The demands of redemption had to include a righteous man. Similar to receiving a blood transfusion that replaces that sin tainted blood. Indeed, Jesus laid down His sinless flesh and in so doing, Jesus rescued His betrothed, sanctifying and cleansing her. His betrothed church body made her holy, purifying and consecrating her, and as a consequence, making her body free from all sin. 

The Spirit of God washed His own redeemed betrothed church body with the washing of the water of His indwelling. Loving words of His declared promises. She in turn willingly submitting to His words of love, and even followed Him to death. Nothing would, or could, separate her from her betrothed. She descends into the watery grave. She obediently obeyed the words of her betrothed husband going down into the water and being baptized into a baptismal watery grave. She symbolically confessed that Jesus was her true lover of her inward being. There was no hesitation. She being desirous to be found faithful to only Him.


The Spirit of God desirous to present to Himself a glorious church-body. His betrothed as a beautiful splendid bride -- a bride who has not one spot or wrinkle, blots or disfigurements. This redeemed Church Body -- the betrothed bride of Christ -- became His purchased possession. Now born again. Now faultless and perfect. The Spirit of God which was in Christ loves His betrothed body. In fact, He loves His betrothed bride even as He loved His own flesh. For indeed, she was His own flesh. She was created in the beginning for Him. She was the flesh of His flesh and bone of His bone.


There were no limits to His love. There was no orders to her to do this or else. Jesus did not just talk the talk. No, He also walked the walk. There was no mountain high enough or valley deep enough to keep His Holy Spirit from His betrothed. So Jesus sacrificed His own natural body in order to woo her back from the house of bondage. Willingly Jesus sacrificed His own sinless body. And to do this, He endured all things. 

Now that is love. No one ever cared for His betrothed bride like Jesus did. Yes, His betrothed was totally unfaithful, scarred, bruised, and mangled, encompassed by the wages of sin. The cheeks sunk in. The eyes dead. In short, a total wreck. But it does not have to be that way. God's love -- the love that drew the salvation plan is inviting you to the wedding feast.


Oh, the grace that brought it down to man. Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span. Yes, at Calvary. LOVE DIVINE -- ALL LOVE EXCELLING. Possibly, some may not feel this love divine. In fact, some may be playing hard to get. However, please do not shut the door on your true love’s face. There is no love like the love of Jesus.You and I are the betrothed bride of Christ. 

 Tell the Lord Jesus how much you need Him and desire His purposes in your heart. Tell the King of kings and Lord of lords how much you need Him to make sense of your life, Simple words. A simple prayer --  "Lord I need you, I need your love today. Come into my heart Lord Jesus." 


Ephesians Chapter Five:


Now to others who think that they are the Head of the Church, well, pay close attention to the following message. You may be the Head of so called churches, but this one thing I know that when the crimson flow fell to the earth below, it was not the blood of an organization. Rather, it was the Blood of the Holy Spirit that flowed from the veins of my beloved, who alone is the Head of His People -- called by His name, the Jesus people. 

Stand in the offering plate.

Salvation is the Gift of God - PART 100

Acts 2:1717 speaks about the last days. That is during a period of time when God will pour out of His Spirit upon all flesh. A period when "your sons and daughters shall prophesy, telling forth divine counsels" and your young men shall see visions, divinely granted appearances. The scriptures also state that during these last days, your old men shall dream divinely suggested dreams. Indeed, God will pour His Spirit on servants and handmaidens, both slaves and slave- girls, men and women alike.

"I will pour out in those days of my Spirit and they shall prophesy, telling forth the divine counsels and predicting future events pertaining especially to God’s kingdom." If you continue on and read verse 19 concerning future predictions, please note that these will be discussed later. Verse 21 then states there will come a time when whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord Jesus, will be saved. By calling upon the name of Jesus, we mean invoking, adoring and worshipping the Lord Jesus the Christ. No ands or maybe.

That’s right, we are undeserving of grace. We do not deserve God's love but salvation does not emerge from us. Salvation is the gift of God. Take the gift of eternal life. God promised that you will never perish, neither shall any one pluck you out of His hand. Only you can ask the Lord Jesus into your life. Only you can ask and receive. However when you do ask Jesus into your life, immediately be baptized  (immersed in water) into the Name of Jesus. Then you shall receive the gift of His Holy Spirit to indwell you.

There is only one Spirit. God who is Spirit is the Head of all. So why not let the Spirit of God breathe inside His own spiritual body which is the Church? Just as we need air to keep our natural physical bodies alive, and without air we die, likewise God who is Spirit life desires to inhabit His own Spiritual body.


Christ was the natural body in which the Spirit of God was pleased to dwell in. The Spirit of God’s plan from the outset was to make Himself a Spiritual Temple in which to dwell. But sin got in the way and seemed to thwart the plan. That is, until God Himself as a Son re-established it. Jesus died and rose again. The spiritual Word of God was shelled in a body of flesh. As such, the flesh had to die, and like every other seed on this planet it must be buried. The carcase shell discarded before the real in- dwelling seed potential can be realized.


God redeemed all His children in a Son’s body. Therefore, we are now the offspring of Jesus. Jesus' spiritual word seeded us and then His Holy Spirit quickened us. We became alive in Jesus. Admittedly, we still have the old carcases our natural bodies. However, because we have been quickened by the Spirit of Jesus our natural bodies ought to prosper. All the members of that Spiritual body are kept alive when the life of the Spirit of God that was in the man Jesus the Christ is allowed to rule and reign.


Unfortunately, the natural flesh demands dominion. Recall Abraham had two sons? One by a bondmaid and the other by a freewoman. As long as the bondwoman was around there was disorder. So it is in the worship meetings. The flesh wants to pop up and instead of being a one headed body we have another horn seeking to have dominion. Again, what does the scripture say?


Cast out the bondwoman and her offspring, for the son of the bondwoman will not be heir with the Son of the free woman. What does this mean?  It means that when we gather together unto the Lord, let each and everyone of us believers assemble in unity of His Spirit, allowing the Spirit of our saviour to speak to and from the members of His own body. We need an atmosphere of praise and worship not a program formulated by the children of the bondwoman.


Our steeples of faith look up to you. Come sweet Spirit we need you, YES LORD ! Come in your own special way! Stand in the Offering Plate. The new testament promise is simple. I will be to you a God and you shall be to me a people. Peace Be to all who are in Jesus.

Precious Lord, Take My Hand - PART 99

Is there any sick among you? If so, the scriptures state, let them call for the Elders Overseers of the Church so that they may prayerfully anoint the sickly person with oil.  This is not oil as in oil that we use for cooking or our vehicles. No, indeed, the oil we address here is the anointing of the Holy Spirit that falls upon the lives of believers.  We are referring to the Holy Spirit anointed prayer that accompanies the laying on of believing hands now offered to the Lord. Similarly, along with believing faith, the touch of the Holy Spirit restores the sick person to health. And too, if that person has sinned, they shall also be forgiven. These signs shall follow them that believe -- they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.

Why do we know this to be true? Because Lord even the devils submit to us in your name. As the scriptures state, "Behold, I give you authoritative power to tread on serpents and scorpions and power over all of the enemy." In other words, nothing shall by any means hurt you. They brought to Jesus many that were possessed with devils and He cast out the spirits with His Word. Further, He healed all that were sick, in fulfillment of these words by the prophet Isaiah. He took upon Himself our infirmities, and He bore the burden of our diseases. This is why the gifts of the Spirit are so vitally important.

To one is given the gift of miracles. To another the gift of Healing, given to believers as gifts intended by the Spirit to be purposefully used. For if they are not stirred up and utilized, then the body of Christ suffers.  Still, some individuals have never seen it in this fashion so they suffer, agonise, writhe in torment with tears daily. Nightly their pain descends like the rain. They pop the pills. They are cut open or they are rayed. Does it ever stop? 


The question is often asked, "Why does God allow it?" Well, God is not the culprit although God is too often blamed. Jesus, who is God Himself as a Son went to Calvary and suffered for us. In fact, He bled and died because He loved the world so much even though the world was full of devil deceived inhabitants. God did this so that the world through faith in Him might be set free from the wages of sin. These include bondage, sin, sickness and demon possession. But as usual, we spin our tires and we listen to every squeaky mouth of religious unbelief that is out there.


We trudge our way through life, programmed by a systematization of error. Truly it is time to cut the cord. Get over the side of the boat and walk in faith. Why? Because the Lord who made you loves you. Moreover, Jesus bore our sicknesses and diseases. Yes, He did on the cross. It is time to look and call upon your creator, saviour and friend. Jesus will not pass you by. Call on Him today. Start believing in Him. You can do so by taking just one step at a time.


Precious Lord, take my Hand -- lead me on and let me stand. As the chorus goes -- I am tired and I am weak but you are strong. Lead me on through the night, lead me on into your light. Precious Lord take my life and lead me on. Believers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God is that you may prosper and be in good health even as your soul prospers. As you faithfully grow in the knowledge of our great God and mankind's only Saviour who is none other than the Lord Jesus, the Christ. God's prescription is simple. Only believe! God is big enough to satisfy your every thirst. Ask for a miracle today. Have faith in God. Lord stretch forth your hand to heal us in the name JESUS. 

Moved with Compassion - PART 98

We enter with boldness into the holy place of prayer with our Great High Priest Jesus who is our Priest forever after the Order of Melchisedec. Further, Jesus is touched with the feelings of our infirmities. He is moved with compassion toward us. He succours us for He in the days of His flesh was similarly tempted and tried in all points like we are. 


When we gather together, we call upon Jesus, the indwelling light that constantly brightens our lives. We offer sincere thanksgiving and praise with our natural voices to the God who loved us so much. Others quietly render praise in unknown tongues, all worshipping in Spirit and in truth. An audible voice is raise. It is not our natural tongue that speaks but rather it is a spiritual gift tongue. Then there is silence. Another voice is heard this time and the voice is in the natural language, uttering deep and edifying words.


Some direct instructions seem to be embedded while yet another may receive a word from the spirit voice gracefully imparting tears of comfort. Who knows what God, who is in the midst of His people ministers? What we do know is that those who needed comfort receive comfort. We also know that God knows what each and every one of us need.


The scriptures state, "Be still, and know that I AM GOD." This is the message that we need to grasp. Tongues accompanied with the gift of interpretation is an integral part of worship. Tongues and interpretation are prescribed but yet limited by the Holy Spirit to two or three times. If there is no one present with the gift of interpretation in the assembly then tongues are not to be expressed audibly, as outlined in the Word.

Note that the whole assembly may not speak in tongues audibly, as some television preachers advocate. For the Scriptures clearly state that if ordinary people or unbelievers are present when tongues are audibly displayed, the listening audience might conclude that the believers are all mad. But this is not the situation. Believers are not demented or raving or fanatical. The apostles recognized that this might be an outcome, which is why the scriptures state how a gathering of believers should function. I Corinthians 14:23 states that during these times, believers should remember the Lord’s death by partaking of the bread and wine.

The Elder overseer must lay emphasis on the fact that we are remembering the LORD’S suffering and crucifixion. Conversely, the Elder overseer needs to state that in so doing, we are not re-sacrificing the Lord's body.  Just because the teaching of transubstantiation emanated from the Church fathers does not make it scripturally correct.  Transubstantiation is nothing short of cannibalism -- drinking blood. That in some way is saying, that the sacrificed offering of Jesus at Calvary was inadequate. This is ridiculous, for it is written that with this one sacrifice --- God sacrificed Himself as a Son -- He did so once and once for all.

For as often as we eat this bread and drink this wine,we do show forth the Lord’s death till He comes.

The Overseer must instruct all that whosoever eats this bread -- which is symbolical of the Lord’s body -- and whosoever drinks this wine -- which is symbolical of the blood of the Holy Spirit -- then they the participants ought to and must first examine themselves; for the admonition is that whosoever eats and drinks unworthily may be eating and drinking judgment upon themselves.


For whom the Lord loves, He also chastens! For this reason many are weak and sickly among believers and many die, simply because they did not stop to discern that the Lord’s suffering and death on their behalf was no small matter. 

Praise the Lord - PART 97

With regard to overseeing elders in Acts 20:17-20, Paul noted that he kept nothing that was profitable "but I have showed you and taught you publicly and from house to house" how administering the gospel message was intended to occur.  Further, in Acts 20:27, the scriptures state "for I have not shunned to declare to you all the counsel of God." Acts 20:28 continues by warning believers to "take heed to ourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers." In other words, the gospel was saying, "Let all things be done decently and in order."

Scriptural references from Psalm 150 confirm a similar message. Praise the Lord -- Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet -- Praise Him with the harp -- Praise Him with the tambourines, drums and dancing --  Praise Him with the stringed instruments and pipes -- and Praise Him with the loud clashing cymbals. The Psalm continues with the verse, "Let everything that has breath, praise the Lord." Whatever we do in word, thought or deed, we do and offer it all in the name of Jesus.

In Luke 15: 22, the Father said to His servants, "Bring forth the best robe and put it on him. And put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet, and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it. And then let us eat and be merry. For this my son was dead, and is alive again. He was lost and is found. And he began to be merry and there was heard coming from the house a sound of music and dancing."

Now we need singing voices. The instrumentals sound wonderful, but it is the Word that strings the heart. A good comparison is the coating around the medicine that tastes good. In actuality, the coating is not the medicine. It is the same message in the gospel. It is written that God sent His Word and healed them. We sing hymns and psalms coated with the instrumentals. Both are united as one making melody in our hearts to our Lord. The atmosphere of praise fills the house. The elders encourage believers to worship in the beauty of holiness. The Elders allowing ample and adequate opportunity for testimonies to be presented one by one. Indeed, the scriptures state that all may testify one by one, so that all who hear the testimonies may learn and be comforted by the words of others.

The overseeing elders then gracefully step into the manifestation of the gifts of prophesy, revelation, tongues and interpretation, healing miracles and testimonies. The Elder emphases that the spirit of the gifted believer is subject to the gifted believer. Recall that no prophesy of the scripture remains a private interpretation. Therefore, allowance must be made for input from others if perchance something is revealed to another. The scriptures state to limit the prophets who speak to two or three, and let the believers weigh or judge what is said. 

Other believers may need refreshing as to the first principles of the teachings and doctrine of the Christian faith. Still, we will continue on in our next presentation to the other gifts of the Holy Spirit so that those who have pushed the gifts of the Holy Spirit aside have to confront their actions in view of the scriptures.  This reference here is to those unbelieving assemblies that have a preference to establishing their agenda -- the deeds of the Nicolaitians which thing the Lord hates.

Lord have your own way in your own body (Church) that we believers may drink of your pure Word. May the Holy Spirit of God which indwelt the man Jesus the Christ who is/was none other than the only begotten Son of God’s Spirit bless you all! Stand in the offering plate.

The Hour I First Believed - PART 96

In I Corinthians14:26 Paul outlines a pattern for orderly conduct that would serve as a guide for believers when they congregate. As a local Jesus people meeting, the presiding officer is God. The same God who is the Father of creation, the Son of redemption and now the indwelling Spirit. When God’s redeemed children gather together as one in unity of faith and Spirit, they are purposely expressing with singleness of heart an offering of sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise. Thanking God their personal Saviour and Redeemer. God being none other than the Lord Jesus the Christ. 

Talk about participation. Well, the spiritual adrenaline in a Jesus meeting would be spiralling with enthusiasm. Akin to our first love as this chorus states ... "Take me back, Lord. Take me back, dear Lord to the place where I first received you. Take me back, oh Lord, to the place where I first believed!"

At Corinth then, the believers were going to let the world know that what they experienced was the real thing. It did not come from the dregs of the genie in the bottle. Neither did it come from weed or turning oneself into a pin cushion. No sir. This high on life is something that the world never gave, and the good news is that the world cannot take it away either.

In comparison, the magic carpet ride of previous days was not even on the scale of 1-10. Why? Because with Jesus, we are sitting in heavenly places. In a place where there are no hangovers. Instead, there is only joy unspeakable.  This is why some of us are so glad for the Holy Ghost gift of tongues. Because with tongues, our spirit can give thanks to God Almighty in a way that language and words cannot. Yes, even  sometimes with groaning that just could not be uttered.

At this point, making fixed rules as or a schedule for worship is difficult. For example, if one were to stringently impose a form, then at which point would stringent order surmount spiritually desired worship. This is a question that I'm sure the Apostles asked as well. So, what recourse is necessary for believers to follow? 

Well, first of all, Acts 20:28 shows Paul addressing the elders. He says:- take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost has made you (the elders) as Overseers -- to feed the church of God, the same church or body of Christ that He purchased with His own blood.

 Now, with elders acting as Overseers -- appointed by the Holy Ghost -- they as overseers must instruct Christian believers that God is not the author of confusion. Rather, God is the author of peace. The Holy Ghost being the Author that defined the conduct for all the assemblies of Jesus people. How do we know this? In Acts 1:2, Jesus through the Holy Ghost commands the apostles whom He had chosen.

Therein, we also see that the gifts of the Holy Ghost and appointed gift administrations, operations and ministries are recognized as being the desired effectual worship. Within this gathering, each believer adorns themselves with the garment of praise, being clothed in His righteousness. Note here that the assembling together of the saints is not about seeking preeminence in the congregation but rather, that each member of the body of Christ can seek the edification of all members by allowing the prompting of the Holy Ghost to lead.

For it is written in the scriptures that Spirit of Jesus the Christ (the man) in the midst of His own Body (church) sings praises to the Spirit of God. It is the indwelling of His holy Spirit, which is the well of living water within us that enables and causes the believers to worship and adore Jesus.

It is Jesus who the scriptures state must have the preeminence in all things. "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do ALL in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him." (Colossians 3:17)

Hopefully; now we are ready to lift our voice with one accord, saying, "Lord you are God alone, the God which has made the heavens and the earth, and all that is contained within. We praise you Lord for your goodness and grace."

And then, stand in the offering plate while the Lord make each and every one of us into a new creation. Be blessed!

I Will Not Leave You Comfortless -- I Will Come to You - PART 95

In previous posts, we saw that through the laying on of hands by the Apostles Peter and John, the gift of the Holy Spirit was given to the believing Samaritans. Although the scriptural record does not explicitly state that the Samaritans spoke in tongues when they received the Holy Spirit, we are able to assume that because of the number of other examples cited in the Bible whereby tongues accompanied the entrance of the Holy Spirit into believers, that it was an occurrence with the Samarians too. 

We should also note that this was not uneventful occasion. If we read the scriptures we note that Simon, a sorcerer was compelled to offer the apostles money, hoping to obtain the same gift as was being manifested. In response to Simon's request, the apostles told Simon that his money should perish with him if he thinks for a moment that money could buy the gift of the Holy Spirit.

As a sidebar to this conversation, gifts of the Holy Spirit include the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit of Jesus, where He says, "I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you."  But in relation to the gift of tongues, it is a topic that has admittedly been much debated among religious institutions. Questions have come forward including whether it is reasonable in the 21st century to assume that believers today could still speak in tongues. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. One of the favored verses used by institutions for opposing the gift of tongues is the scripture that states tongues will cease.

Unfortunately, it is only this portion of the verse that they rely on. In so doing, they withhold the rest of the verse which of course mention ‘when” tongues will cease. That is, "when that which is perfect will come." These institutions also forget that tongues were as a sign. Not to them that believe but tongues were given as a sign to those that don’t believe.

He or she that speaks in an unknown tongue, whether it be tongues of men or angels, or a completely unknown tongue is not speaking to men. No, they are speaking to God. The person praying is praying to God in a spirit language. Although his or her understanding of what he or she is praying about is unfruitful, at least in their natural mind, speaking in tongues represents a pouring out of one's heart to the Lord.

Put another way, in the spirit one is speaking mysteries. Even though the praying believers' understanding is unfruitful, the praying believers are being edified in spirit. For assuredly the believer rightly knows that God knows what is on their mind when they pray. Often, the believer quietly prays in spirit and at times he or she prays also with her natural tongue of understanding. 

What then is the exhortation of the scripture, that believers who have the Holy Spirit gift of tongues should cease to speak in tongues. Indeed, believers ought to continue praying quietly in the spirit until the need of the spirit rests. For God who hears and sees in secret shall reward openly. At the same time, the gifted believer should pray to receive the gift of interpretation that accompanies the gift of tongues, in order that the believer’s understanding will be nourished.

"For in the spirit, the believer was speaking mysteries." Paul the apostle to the gentiles expressed that he spoke with / in tongues more than all the ones he was addressing . And as a crescendo, the scriptures also state that believers should not be forbidden to speak in tongues. How do the scriptures put it? Desire spiritual gifts because every good and perfect gift comes from Jesus, the true God as a son. The same God who Himself Fathered us at Calvary. God as a son sacrificed Himself for His children. In other words, God loves His believing children. Stand in the Offering plate!

God Will Be Glorified - PART 94

In the scriptures thus far, we have seen the gifts of the Holy Spirit being manifested through Philip. We also learn that God honoured the selection of Philip as one of the seven apostles. How do we know this? Well, when the assembled church prayed with one accord, God heard the united voice of His people and He, as the head of the church body, responded with abundance. The understaffed mission started received a supply of daily food necessities for those who lacked. 

In Acts 8:14, we read that while the apostles were in Jerusalem, they heard that Samaria had received the Word of God. They sent Peter and John to Samaria. Upon their arrival, Peter and John prayed for the believing Samaritans so that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet, the Holy Spirit had not fallen upon any of them. Had not fallen upon any of them but they had been baptised or buried into Jesus by baptism into His death. This is not baptism into the titles as so many religious institutions have adopted today but rather baptized into Jesus.

In reviewing the text, some questions emerge. In this scriptural passage, the believing Samaritans had not received the Holy Spirit, even though they had received the Word of God. The Samarians were also gladly baptized into the name of Jesus. They had seen the powerful gifts of the Holy Spirit demonstrated through Philip but they themselves, according to the scriptures had not received the Holy Spirit. This is not to suggest that the Samarians were not fully persuaded. Persuaded they were and overjoyed too.

But as Christians studying the scriptures, should we not ponder as to why these believers had not yet received the Holy Spirit? Remember, many of us were taught that we received the Holy Spirit as soon as we believed. Early indications, if we were to stop reading this outline here, would believe that something different is being presented here. An alternate message even though this is not the case.

As the scriptures indicate, the apostles Peter and John had prayed to the head of the body Jesus on behalf of these believers. These believers had received the Holy Spirit of Jesus which includes the gift of eternal life. Although Peter and John may have had a different gift than the evangelist Philip, it was not a different gospel. How do we know this? Because the scriptures state, "For to one is given ... and to another ...!" To each and every believer, the Holy Spirit distributes His gifts as He wills.

Philip had four daughters that prophesied, which shows that there is neither male nor female in the body of Christ. What it does indicate is that believers are all fellow labourers in the body of Christ, walking in His Spirit and fellowshipping one with another. As such, let there be no ism's nor schism's in His body. Instead, desire Jesus and desire spiritual Gifts. Stand in the Offering Plate!

Freely You Have Received -- Freely Give - PART 93

THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: The second on the list advanced in the scriptural records is the gift of prophecy. Note that this gift is not the gift of teaching, although prophets have been known to be teachers.  Today, many of the denominational established churches do not make allowances for the exercise of this gift within the congregation. Other religious institutions seemingly exercise this gift in a manner that could be perceived as someone being high on something. The good news is that there is still an abundance of evidence that the real gift of prophecy emerges from the Holy Spirit. This is the topic of discussion here.

Remember, the Words of encouragement in the scriptures that indicate that we ought to desire spiritual gifts? If we truly desire a particular gift and we ask our Father for that particular gift for our own edification, then our heavenly Father would certainly not withhold His spiritual gifts from His children. The same principles apply to the body of Christ. Various gifts are distributed to some members because they are necessary to advance the gospel message. These gifts are manifest and in operation where the members of the body of Christ are responsible for multiple tasks. As alluded to above, the gift of teaching observed by the actions may go hand in hand with the gift of prophesy, but not necessarily so. This is why it is important to read the scriptures so that we are informed of these types of differences.

And then there are the Gift of miracles.  An example can be found in Acts chapter 8.  Philip was one of the seven selected by the people to serve the church in administering daily needs. As the scriptures point out, the required credentials were that the seven selected individuals were (1) honest men, (2) filled with the Holy Spirit and (3) and full of wisdom. Philip along with six others were presented before the Lord. Prayer was offered and the apostles lay their hands on the seven. It is recorded that the seven were appointed. It is also noted in the scriptures that the Word of God increased.

Philip, now recognised as a deacon went to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ (God manifest in the flesh as a Son ) to the Samaritans. The people heard Philip the deacon / preacher and they paid attention to the gospel message, particularly when they saw the miracles that he did. Unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them. Others taken with palsies, and lame were healed. Understandably, this was a time of great joy in that city.

Here, Philip, an honest man filled with the Holy Spirit and wisdom is now the deacon, the preacher and the miracle worker. Philip exercised Jesus over the demonic powers so that they would come out of those people who were possessed. Philip watched as people were healed. It did not finish there. Philip baptised the believing Samaritans into the name of Jesus. Of course, all of the miracles performed were in the name of Jesus. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit were in operation in and through Philip who was and is a member of the Holy Spirit’s own body. His only begotten son JESUS.

All of these gifts via the holy Spirit of Jesus were manifested in one man who was an honest man. Philip was filled with the Holy Spirit and wisdom before he became an appointed deacon, preacher , evangelist, miracle worker, exorcist, healer and baptiser. If we use Philip as a role model, pray tell, what God may have in store for you and me. The gifts to us and the calling of God for us to believe are given to us freely.

Freely we have received and freely shall we give. Lord, lay some soul upon my heart, and let me love that soul for you.  May I forever do my part to bring that soul to you. Stand in the offering plate. Today is the day of salvation.  

The Word of God -- Preach No Other Doctrine - PART 92

THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY GHOST: God who at sundry times and in various manners has spoken to us by the prophets has in these last days spoken to us in His son. God sent His only begotten son, conceived by the Holy Ghost (the only begotten) to bring to man a message concerning His own pure spiritual humanity.


In order to expedite this mission to an outpost of God’s creation it would require a messenger. This is why God who is Spirit clothed Himself in flesh and became the Apostle to the world. For God so loved the world! Indeed, for God so loved the world that once the plan of salvation was created,  there would be no stopping God’s mission until all things necessary for mankind's redemption was fulfilled.


That is why at Calvary Jesus said, "IT IS FINISHED." The price paid in full by God Himself. Once and for all. But the cost was enormous and for many of us, really beyond our capacity to even slightly comprehend. God’s work as a son completed redemption even though still incomplete as far as God’s ordained plan for man was concerned. 


God no longer has a body like we have, for He had sacrificed His body as the price of our ransom from sin. So what did Jesus do? He did not walk away. No sir. Instead, He appoints 12 redeemed believing persons to continue on with what He had started. Disciples chosen by Jesus. Made apostles by Jesus.

He did not change His personally delivered message. He told the apostles to go preach the good news gospel message - the very Word that He had delivered to them. The reason for a succession plan of such magnitude? So that the gospel message would not stop with them but would circle the earth in a manner that whosoever heard and believed would be regenerated to a new life by His holy Spirit.

Jesus "through" the Holy Ghost continued commanding the apostles after He was taken up. (Acts 1:1-4)


This is why Paul would say if any one preaches to you another message other than the message that we delivered to you let them be cursed. This is also why we recognize that the Word of God is coming to us freely delivered through the cost of Jesus life. One may try to preach another gospel or one may want to be an apostle (messenger). However, this Word and only this Word must be preached in all the world as a witness to all people. 


So, if you want to be an apostle or messenger for God, make sure that the message you are delivering as the Word of God is truly the gospel message delivered to us and continuing to be preached unaltered by those who walked with Him. Fortunately, there will always be apostles (messengers) who will not preach any other message. They plain and simply would be unable to change the original message.

Sadly, however, at the same time there are others who are not so minded. These are the individuals that the scriptures classify as false apostles. (II Thessalonians 2; Matthew 24) No doubt you have noticed that Paul declared to be an Apostle of Jesus Christ, Jesus delivered to him the gospel that he preached. Many others who walked with him did not hang their shingle out as being apostles simply because to be an apostle one would have to be called into that gifted ministry.

It is the same today. If you claim to be a present day apostle then you will understand that an apostle holds back no scriptural teaching that might be profitable to the other members in the body of our Lord Jesus. In the end, the scriptures put it right.

The scriptures state, "try the spirits. If they speak not according to this Word, there is no light in them."  JESUS is God’s Apostle. It is He who preached and delivers the counsel of God to man. Jesus who is God Himself as a Son chose 12 +1 believers to continue steadfastly in His Word. They, the 12+1, preached the same Word to us as had been delivered to them by God’s Apostle JESUS. God confirms their Word as being His Word to us today and as a result we now have much consolation. The final message - true apostles will preach no other doctrine.

And yes, that means abiding in Jesus in all things, including water baptism in Jesus' name according to Peter, standing with the apostles on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:37-42)

Let him who hath ears to hear, hear. Stand in the offering plate.