Acts 19: 1-5 contains an interesting story of some disciples that Paul encountered in Ephesus. Let's take a look at the text... And it happened that while Apollos
was at Corinth, Paul passed through
the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found
some disciples. And he said to them, “Did
you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we
have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into
what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John's
baptism.” And Paul said, “John
baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to
believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they
were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Paul meets these disciples and a discussion begins. Somewhere along the way, something is said that prompts Paul to ask if they received the Holy Spirit when they "believed". I am sure they gave him a puzzled look as they said that they had never heard of the Holy Spirit. Let's pull over and park and make sure we are on the same page... Paul meets some disciples, these disciples say something that concerns Paul and so he questions their conversion. They believe in Jesus, but something is missing. So, Paul asks them if they had received the Holy Spirit and they say that they had never heard of the Spirit. Ok, ok.
Depending on your religious background, Paul's next question could cause you some heartburn. When these disciples say that they have no knowledge of the Spirit, Paul asks them about their baptism. Strange? They didn't have the Holy Spirit and Paul asks about their baptism. Paul is connecting the receiving of the Holy Spirit with baptism. Let's keep reading... they say that they only knew of John's baptism. (read Mark 1:4) Someone had visited Ephesus and taught about the baptism of John. They had a partial understanding of the truth, but it was incomplete. Paul could have left it there and said God would work it out. He could have thought, "they believe in Jesus and that is enough". He could have, but he didn't.
It was and is important for disciples to be on the same page when it comes to doctrine. He knew that if he didn't confront this and teach them the truth about baptism, sooner or later, there would be a split in the church in Ephesus. Just look around, how many different belief systems do we have today? All caused by a different understanding of doctrine. Paul didn't want that and so he taught them about baptism that is accompanied by the Spirit. (Acts 2:37-41) He could have left them believing something wrong and they could have refused to listen to this "different" teaching. They could have said that they were baptized once and that was enough. But they didn't! They were open to learn truth and when confronted with it, they were obedient.
When Paul finished teaching them about Jesus and their need to be baptized for the remission of their sins and receive the Holy Spirit, they jumped in (so to speak). He wouldn't let them remain in error and they were open to truth. That is a great example for us today. Those that understand the truth must be willing to confront error and those in error must by open to learn the truth. If we were all like that, there would be one church... just like we find in the Bible. Instead, we don't confront error and we aren't willing to confront the things we believe that don't line up with scripture and we have thousands of denominations.
What about you? Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you were baptized? Or were you taught to say a prayer? I have read the Bible through many times looking for a person that was told to "pray Jesus into their heart" and am yet to find one. If you know of one, please send me a comment so that I may learn about it. Instead, every person is told the same thing... believe, be baptized and receive the Spirit. Over and over, all the way through the book of Acts... believe, be baptized and receive the Spirit. Paul told these disciples that had a partial understanding the same thing and they were rebaptized. Do you need to be immersed for the forgiveness of your sins and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit? If so, let me know and I will get you in touch with someone that can help you study and help you become a baptized believer. May God bless you in your decision.
Check out what Francis Chan has to say on the subject.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Is8QnxviOI
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Monday, November 26, 2012
Restore Him Gently
One of the great things about belonging to the family of God is our responsibility to one another. The New Testament is filled with "one anothers" to direct our actions as we follow Him. Jesus demonstrated these "one anothers" perfectly and we are given instruction through the Word as to how we are to treat each other. The final chapter of Galatians contains a little instruction that is often ignored or at least not fully applied.
Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load. (Gal 6:1-5)
We have a mutual responsibility to each other. If I am "caught" in a sin, my fellow Christian has a responsibility to help me escape. If I see my brother or sister trapped in a sin, I am to intervene in their lives to help carry that burden. You may be asking why we should do such a thing... "why would I entangle myself in someone else's problems?". The answer to that question is fairly simple, first, God wants His children to live in such a way that He is glorified. We are to live righteously! Secondly, James tells us that when we do that, when we rescue a child of God from their entrapment, we "save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins". (James 5:19-20) So, it is about life here and hereafter. It is about helping each other live rightly here and helping each other get to live with God in the hereafter. I know that might make some of you uncomfortable, but read the Book and let me know where I am wrong.
Paul warns us in this passage in Galatians that we are to be careful because we can be tempted by what we are helping others deal with. If I am a recovering alcoholic, I don't need to go sit with someone that is drinking. If I am struggling with pornography, I am not the one that needs to go to the strip club to bring a brother home. If I am dealing with drug dependency, I don't need to go to a party to pull a sister out of a bad situation. We need to be wise in our helping is what Paul is saying. We have a responsibility to each other and we have a responsibility to ourselves, to keep ourselves from temptation. We are to help carry each other's burdens, but we are also to carry our own load.
As members of God's family, may we all determine to be alert to each others activities and be open enough to know when someone is trapped in sin. Once we know about it, let us be busy pulling each other from the snare of sin. Our lives here are to be rich and full in Christ Jesus and our lives hereafter are to be eternally spent with the Father. Even Paul was concerned that he might come up short after he had taught so many others... So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (1 Cor 9: 26-27). May we have his attitude as we help others and keep a watchful eye on ourselves.
Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load. (Gal 6:1-5)
We have a mutual responsibility to each other. If I am "caught" in a sin, my fellow Christian has a responsibility to help me escape. If I see my brother or sister trapped in a sin, I am to intervene in their lives to help carry that burden. You may be asking why we should do such a thing... "why would I entangle myself in someone else's problems?". The answer to that question is fairly simple, first, God wants His children to live in such a way that He is glorified. We are to live righteously! Secondly, James tells us that when we do that, when we rescue a child of God from their entrapment, we "save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins". (James 5:19-20) So, it is about life here and hereafter. It is about helping each other live rightly here and helping each other get to live with God in the hereafter. I know that might make some of you uncomfortable, but read the Book and let me know where I am wrong.
Paul warns us in this passage in Galatians that we are to be careful because we can be tempted by what we are helping others deal with. If I am a recovering alcoholic, I don't need to go sit with someone that is drinking. If I am struggling with pornography, I am not the one that needs to go to the strip club to bring a brother home. If I am dealing with drug dependency, I don't need to go to a party to pull a sister out of a bad situation. We need to be wise in our helping is what Paul is saying. We have a responsibility to each other and we have a responsibility to ourselves, to keep ourselves from temptation. We are to help carry each other's burdens, but we are also to carry our own load.
As members of God's family, may we all determine to be alert to each others activities and be open enough to know when someone is trapped in sin. Once we know about it, let us be busy pulling each other from the snare of sin. Our lives here are to be rich and full in Christ Jesus and our lives hereafter are to be eternally spent with the Father. Even Paul was concerned that he might come up short after he had taught so many others... So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (1 Cor 9: 26-27). May we have his attitude as we help others and keep a watchful eye on ourselves.
Friday, November 23, 2012
The Day After Thanksgiving
I woke up this morning in a full turkey stooper. I admit it, I ate too much of the big bird. My wife knows how to fix a turkey... and I know how to eat it. As is the custom, we had some 35 friends and family over to our house for an evening of food and fellowship. Neither disappointed. But now it is the day after and I am recovering from having to say goodbye to a daughter that lives too far away and a food hangover.
But what am I thinking about today? Yesterday it was easy, all day long we talked about what we have to be thankful for. We were focused and we said all the right things, prayed all the right prayers... but what about today, the day after? How easy it is to get busy and forget what yesterday was all about. Black Friday calls us to the stores and the leftovers are needing to be eaten. But will I, will you live the day in the same attitude of gratitude as we had yesterday? Will we stop to think about our blessings the day after Thanksgiving?
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. (Col 2:6,7)
Paul gives us a little instruction that gives us insight into how we can always live as a grateful people. He reminds us that we received Jesus... no matter how our days are going, just knowing that we have a relationship with the Creator of the universe should give us reason to rejoice. He says we are "rooted and built up in him". Our beginning and our end is found in our Savior. We are able to stand firm against the day because our foundation is firm. Our strength comes from the Lord, so we are to "overflow with thankfulness"!
Not just one day each year. Not on really good days. Not when life deals us a great hand. Every day! Every day we are overflowing with thankfulness. Every day! Flat tire... thankfulness. Dead battery... thankfulness. Tough day at the office... thankfulness. Difficult day at home with the kids... thankfulness. Our worst day is better than a lost person's best day. Think about it... even when things go terribly wrong, we are still children of the King. How bad can it be when we know that God is our father?
Acappella puts it like this in their song "Begins"...
Your life begins with God
Your love begins with God
Your hopes and your dreams
And your plans begin with God
When we fully understand that concept, we will live as a grateful people. When everything begins with Him, the end of everything is Him. If we have that knowledge, how can we not overflow with thankfulness? May each of us determine to live everyday like we lived yesterday. May each day be Thanksgiving and may we determine to give what we have to those that don't have it. It is the only way they will ever truly be thankful. God bless you in the doing of it.
But what am I thinking about today? Yesterday it was easy, all day long we talked about what we have to be thankful for. We were focused and we said all the right things, prayed all the right prayers... but what about today, the day after? How easy it is to get busy and forget what yesterday was all about. Black Friday calls us to the stores and the leftovers are needing to be eaten. But will I, will you live the day in the same attitude of gratitude as we had yesterday? Will we stop to think about our blessings the day after Thanksgiving?
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. (Col 2:6,7)
Paul gives us a little instruction that gives us insight into how we can always live as a grateful people. He reminds us that we received Jesus... no matter how our days are going, just knowing that we have a relationship with the Creator of the universe should give us reason to rejoice. He says we are "rooted and built up in him". Our beginning and our end is found in our Savior. We are able to stand firm against the day because our foundation is firm. Our strength comes from the Lord, so we are to "overflow with thankfulness"!
Not just one day each year. Not on really good days. Not when life deals us a great hand. Every day! Every day we are overflowing with thankfulness. Every day! Flat tire... thankfulness. Dead battery... thankfulness. Tough day at the office... thankfulness. Difficult day at home with the kids... thankfulness. Our worst day is better than a lost person's best day. Think about it... even when things go terribly wrong, we are still children of the King. How bad can it be when we know that God is our father?
Acappella puts it like this in their song "Begins"...
Your life begins with God
Your love begins with God
Your hopes and your dreams
And your plans begin with God
When we fully understand that concept, we will live as a grateful people. When everything begins with Him, the end of everything is Him. If we have that knowledge, how can we not overflow with thankfulness? May each of us determine to live everyday like we lived yesterday. May each day be Thanksgiving and may we determine to give what we have to those that don't have it. It is the only way they will ever truly be thankful. God bless you in the doing of it.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Go and Make Disciples
As Jesus prepared to ascend into heaven, He gave His apostles their life purpose. We all look for what we are meant to do, that is nothing new. The apostles were facing life without their Master and I am sure they were looking into each others eyes and asking "what now?". He was leaving and they were staying... what now? He had trained them for three years, given them Himself, but what was it all about? What did He prepare them to do?
In Matthew 28: 16-20, He tells them what the preparation was all about. Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
He tells them that God, the Father had given Him all authority. He is in charge. Period. Whatever He says settles it. What ever He commands is His marching orders. Period. Next, He tells them what to do with their "Master's degrees" they had earned studying at His feet. They were to spend the rest of their lives going and telling. Everywhere they go, they are to tell the people about Him. They are to work to make those people His disciples. They are to persuade others to follow Him. That is what it was all about. Three years of preparation to be disciple makers.
Ok, so... what is the direction from Jesus on how to make disciples? He gives them pretty simple directions that are simple to understand, yet complex in their understanding. Two things... 1. baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and 2. teach them to obey everything He had commanded them. Sounds simple enough. When we go to the book of Acts, we find that after His ascension in Acts 1, the apostles begin to do just what He had commanded them to do. In Acts 2, Peter teaches a crowd gathered in Jerusalem. He teaches them about who Jesus is (vv 17-36) and then he commands them to be immersed for the remission of their sins (vv 38- 40). Next, we read that those that believed and were baptized began to study at the apostles feet (vv 42- 47).
Jesus gave the command for His followers to get busy telling others about Him. He gave them the instruction that His disciples were to be baptized and that they were to be taught His commands. That was His last instruction to His disciples and we read through the rest of the New Testament about how the early Christians carried out His command. Everywhere they went, people became disciples, they were immersed and taught. That we His instruction and that is what they did. Period.
And that was the story for centuries... people were taught about Jesus, they were immersed for the forgiveness of their sins and they were taught everything He commanded them. They were Christians and they belonged to His church. I believe that we are still in the disciple making business. As Christians, that is our job... teach them, baptize them and teach them everything He commanded. Anything short of that is not making disciples the way Jesus commanded. Anything short of that is someone elses command.
If you are reading this and you are not a Christian, you need to be taught. There are several ways for that to occur. First, contact me and I will be happy to study with you. Second, go to www.worldbibleschool.org and sign up as a student and get started learning. Third, if you live in Wilkes County, North Carolina, go to www.wilkes.worldbibleschool.org and someone form this area will work with you. These are a few ways to get into His word and begin the process of becoming His disciple. Get in there a dig, learn His plan for your life!! The main thing is... get started!
Love God, Love People!
In Matthew 28: 16-20, He tells them what the preparation was all about. Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
He tells them that God, the Father had given Him all authority. He is in charge. Period. Whatever He says settles it. What ever He commands is His marching orders. Period. Next, He tells them what to do with their "Master's degrees" they had earned studying at His feet. They were to spend the rest of their lives going and telling. Everywhere they go, they are to tell the people about Him. They are to work to make those people His disciples. They are to persuade others to follow Him. That is what it was all about. Three years of preparation to be disciple makers.
Ok, so... what is the direction from Jesus on how to make disciples? He gives them pretty simple directions that are simple to understand, yet complex in their understanding. Two things... 1. baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and 2. teach them to obey everything He had commanded them. Sounds simple enough. When we go to the book of Acts, we find that after His ascension in Acts 1, the apostles begin to do just what He had commanded them to do. In Acts 2, Peter teaches a crowd gathered in Jerusalem. He teaches them about who Jesus is (vv 17-36) and then he commands them to be immersed for the remission of their sins (vv 38- 40). Next, we read that those that believed and were baptized began to study at the apostles feet (vv 42- 47).
Jesus gave the command for His followers to get busy telling others about Him. He gave them the instruction that His disciples were to be baptized and that they were to be taught His commands. That was His last instruction to His disciples and we read through the rest of the New Testament about how the early Christians carried out His command. Everywhere they went, people became disciples, they were immersed and taught. That we His instruction and that is what they did. Period.
And that was the story for centuries... people were taught about Jesus, they were immersed for the forgiveness of their sins and they were taught everything He commanded them. They were Christians and they belonged to His church. I believe that we are still in the disciple making business. As Christians, that is our job... teach them, baptize them and teach them everything He commanded. Anything short of that is not making disciples the way Jesus commanded. Anything short of that is someone elses command.
If you are reading this and you are not a Christian, you need to be taught. There are several ways for that to occur. First, contact me and I will be happy to study with you. Second, go to www.worldbibleschool.org and sign up as a student and get started learning. Third, if you live in Wilkes County, North Carolina, go to www.wilkes.worldbibleschool.org and someone form this area will work with you. These are a few ways to get into His word and begin the process of becoming His disciple. Get in there a dig, learn His plan for your life!! The main thing is... get started!
Love God, Love People!
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Love One Another
“A new command
I give you: Love one another.
As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if
you love one another.” (John 13: 34-35)
In the upper room, on His last night with His disciples before His crucifixion, Jesus gave them much to digest. Some have called this time "the last board meeting with the Chairman". He was giving them their marching orders, knowing that He was about to leave them. He was preparing them for what they would face shortly.
In the middle of instituting the Lord's Supper, washing feet, calling out Judas and promising to send the Holy Spirit, Jesus gives them this "new command" to love each other. Had He never taught them to love before? Sure... but I believe that He is giving them a bigger, a deeper and a larger command. He knew he was to leave them shortly... He had seen their jockeying for position in the Kingdom and He knew they needed a bigger idea of love to sustain them.
So He open their minds to the idea that their love towards one another should look like His love for them. They were about to face the world without Him. What would sustain them through the difficult times, the persecution, the dying? Love. "As I have loved you, so you must love one another". How? As Jesus had loved them! Let's pull over and park here for a minute... the example of love that they were to follow was the example of Jesus leaving heaven, becoming a man, giving up everything for them, going to the cross, suffering and dying... for them. (open your Bibles to Philippians 2, read verses 1-11 and just let it sink in for a moment) This was the example that He had given them and now He tells them that they are to love that way.
Next, Jesus tells them that this love "would do" something that nothing else "could do". When the world, when men see this kind of love, this self-denying, giving, caring, putting others first kind of love, they would see Jesus. By their love for each other, the world would know that they are "His" disciples. Something about their relationships would be so different that people would be able to identify them as followers of Jesus.
This wasn't to be some... "love you bro" kind of thing. This was a "I will live for you, but if I have to, I will die for you" kind of thing. This is the "get you up in the middle of the night" kind of love. We have to understand the difference that Jesus made in their lives, the kind of love He demonstrated before we will ever understand what He is commanding. It was and is "new". It is not the same love as we see in the world! This is the "I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me" kind of love found in Matthew 25.
Jesus commanded the apostles to teach "us" to obey all things He had commanded them... so, while the command to love like that was given to them, it is also given to us. You and me! We are to love others like Jesus loves us. (thinking time here) Here is the question for you and me... Do others know we are His disciples by the love we show in our lives? Does anyone think I am different because of the way I love? Does anyone see you as different by your love for them?
Casting Crowns asked it this way...
But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
What about it? Are we keeping His "new" command? Let's talk about it and then let's do it.
In the upper room, on His last night with His disciples before His crucifixion, Jesus gave them much to digest. Some have called this time "the last board meeting with the Chairman". He was giving them their marching orders, knowing that He was about to leave them. He was preparing them for what they would face shortly.
In the middle of instituting the Lord's Supper, washing feet, calling out Judas and promising to send the Holy Spirit, Jesus gives them this "new command" to love each other. Had He never taught them to love before? Sure... but I believe that He is giving them a bigger, a deeper and a larger command. He knew he was to leave them shortly... He had seen their jockeying for position in the Kingdom and He knew they needed a bigger idea of love to sustain them.
So He open their minds to the idea that their love towards one another should look like His love for them. They were about to face the world without Him. What would sustain them through the difficult times, the persecution, the dying? Love. "As I have loved you, so you must love one another". How? As Jesus had loved them! Let's pull over and park here for a minute... the example of love that they were to follow was the example of Jesus leaving heaven, becoming a man, giving up everything for them, going to the cross, suffering and dying... for them. (open your Bibles to Philippians 2, read verses 1-11 and just let it sink in for a moment) This was the example that He had given them and now He tells them that they are to love that way.
Next, Jesus tells them that this love "would do" something that nothing else "could do". When the world, when men see this kind of love, this self-denying, giving, caring, putting others first kind of love, they would see Jesus. By their love for each other, the world would know that they are "His" disciples. Something about their relationships would be so different that people would be able to identify them as followers of Jesus.
This wasn't to be some... "love you bro" kind of thing. This was a "I will live for you, but if I have to, I will die for you" kind of thing. This is the "get you up in the middle of the night" kind of love. We have to understand the difference that Jesus made in their lives, the kind of love He demonstrated before we will ever understand what He is commanding. It was and is "new". It is not the same love as we see in the world! This is the "I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me" kind of love found in Matthew 25.
Jesus commanded the apostles to teach "us" to obey all things He had commanded them... so, while the command to love like that was given to them, it is also given to us. You and me! We are to love others like Jesus loves us. (thinking time here) Here is the question for you and me... Do others know we are His disciples by the love we show in our lives? Does anyone think I am different because of the way I love? Does anyone see you as different by your love for them?
Casting Crowns asked it this way...
But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
What about it? Are we keeping His "new" command? Let's talk about it and then let's do it.
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