Leaving Laodicea

There is so much confusion about the Holy Spirit today.  You have entire Christian denominations committed primarily to their particular view of the Holy Spirit:  Who He is, how He is received, the importance of gifts, are tongues real, has prophecy ceased, and of course the debate about the difference between baptism and filling of the Holy Spirit, and on and on it goes.Ahem.But the Scriptures are clear about the Holy Spirit and His role today.  In fact, there really shouldn't be any confusion or disagreement between Believers on this issue - especially concerning some of the more troubling passages in Acts.  And it is these very passages that we are going to examine from the Scriptures.  Are you interested?  Good.  Then keep listening.This is a study on the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus, after the Passover meal, took the third cup of wine, the cup of redemption, He instituted what we call and celebrate as the Lord's Supper.  He spoke of the bread representing His body that was broken for them (Luke 22:19) and the wine as the new covenant in His blood that was to be shed for them for the remission of sins (Matt. 26:28).  And He ended it all by saying:"Do this in remembrance of Me" (1 Cor. 13:25).When we partake of the Lord's Supper, Jesus wants us to remember Him.  Who He is and what He has done for each of us.  Remember Him.  And only Him.What do you remember about Jesus?  What are your most precious thoughts regarding Him?  And what does He want us to remember?   To find out more, keep listening.The following is a study on the Lord's Supper.

When Jesus, after the Passover meal, took the third cup of wine, the cup of redemption, He instituted what we call and celebrate as the Lord's Supper.  He spoke of the bread representing His body that was broken for them (Luke 22:19) and the wine as the new covenant in His blood that was to be shed for them for the remission of sins (Matt. 26:28).  And He ended it all by saying:"Do this in remembrance of Me" (1 Cor. 13:25).When we partake of the Lord's Supper, Jesus wants us to remember Him.  Who He is and what He has done for each of us.  Remember Him.  And only Him.What do you remember about Jesus?  What are your most precious thoughts regarding Him?  And what does He want us to remember?   To find out more, keep listening.The following is a study on the Lord's Supper.

Of the 684 commands in the New Testament, some of them are of the if/then type and include a promise to those who obey the command.  For example, Jesus promises to manifest Himself to those who keep His commands.  Can you think of anything better than that?  “He who has My commandments and keeps (or, obey, guard, watch, as if a warden) them, it is he who loves (agape) Me.  And he who loves (agape) Me will be (1) loved (agape) by My Father, and (2) I will love (agape) him and (3) manifest (or, to make known, cause to be seen, to show, to cause something to be fully known by revealing clearly and in some detail—‘to make known, to make plain, to reveal, to bring to the light, to disclose, revelation) Myself to him" (John 14:21).And there are many more of the if/then promises of the Lord Jesus.  To discover them, keep listening.The following is a study on the blessings of obedience.

Of the 684 commands in the New Testament, some of them are of the if/then type and include a promise to those who obey the command.  For example, Jesus promises to manifest Himself to those who keep His commands.  Can you think of anything better than that?  “He who has My commandments and keeps (or, obey, guard, watch, as if a warden) them, it is he who loves (agape) Me.  And he who loves (agape) Me will be (1) loved (agape) by My Father, and (2) I will love (agape) him and (3) manifest (or, to make known, cause to be seen, to show, to cause something to be fully known by revealing clearly and in some detail—‘to make known, to make plain, to reveal, to bring to the light, to disclose, revelation) Myself to him" (John 14:21).And there are many more of the if/then promises of the Lord Jesus.  To discover them, keep listening.The following is a study on the blessings of obedience.

Daniel has been in captivity for close to 67 years and understands, from the writings of Jeremiah, that this captivity will only last 70 years.  In 3 more years— freedom.  And Daniel is close to 80 years old when he discovers this truth.So what does he do?  He prays.  But not like you and I pray.  No, Daniel prays and cries for mercy for his sins, the sins of his people, and the sins of the land.  Daniel prays for his nation like you and I should pray for ours.Consider the end of his prayer:"O Lord, hear!  O Lord, forgive!  O Lord, listen and act!  Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name" (Dan. 9:19).What happens when we, the church, begin to pray like Daniel?  Listen to find out more.This is a study on Daniel 9:1-19.

Daniel has been in captivity for close to 67 years and understands, from the writings of Jeremiah, that this captivity will only last 70 years.  In 3 more years— freedom.  And Daniel is close to 80 years old when he discovers this truth.So what does he do?  He prays.  But not like you and I pray.  No, Daniel prays and cries for mercy for his sins, the sins of his people, and the sins of the land.  Daniel prays for his nation like you and I should pray for ours.Consider the end of his prayer:"O Lord, hear!  O Lord, forgive!  O Lord, listen and act!  Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name" (Dan. 9:19).What happens when we, the church, begin to pray like Daniel?  Listen to find out more.This is a study on Daniel 9:1-19.

After a full chapter of confronting the rabid unbelief of the Pharisees and enduring their personal, ad hominem attacks, Jesus turned the tables and told them exactly why they couldn't understand or receive, believe His Words.  He said, Question:  "Why do you not understand My speech?"Answer:  "Because you are not able to (or, cannot, it is an inherent impossibility) listen to My word."They're not able, they can't.  Listening to His words is an inherent impossibility to them.  Did you ever wonder why and how this fits with being His sheep in John 10?  If so, then keep listening.The following is a study on John 8:37-59.

After a full chapter of confronting the rabid unbelief of the Pharisees and enduring their personal, ad hominem attacks, Jesus turned the tables and told them exactly why they couldn't understand or receive, believe His Words.  He said, Question:  "Why do you not understand My speech?"Answer:  "Because you are not able to (or, cannot, it is an inherent impossibility) listen to My word."They're not able, they can't.  Listening to His words is an inherent impossibility to them.  Did you ever wonder why and how this fits with being His sheep in John 10?  If so, then keep listening.The following is a study on John 8:37-59.

The book of Malachi ends with the description of two groups of people that will respond differently when the day of the Lord comes.  One, those who fear the Lord and long for His appearing, will see the "Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings" (Mal. 3:2).  The other group, those who do not know or love the Lord, that Day will be a day of "burning like an oven" (Mal. 4:1).Question for us is this:  Which group are you in?  And what are you prepared to do about it?To find the answer to these eternal questions, keep listening.The following is a study on Malachi 4:1-6.