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160110 NO Condemnation

Romans 8:1-4 (1) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spir...

Monday, February 24, 2014

140224 Baptism of the Spirit

2 Peter 1:20,21
  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Guessing and tradition are nothing to God's Word. If there is no private interpretation, then there is either none available, or only God's interpretation counts. Let's read what is written.

Act 1:5  For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

This sets a new way of doing things. The dramatic thing that happened not many days from the Ascension was the outpouring of the holy spirit in Acts 2:

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

Acts 2:38
  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 2:41
  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Since the last mention of baptism was of the Spirit, that is what is happened here. Later in Acts, the Ethiopian Eunuch was baptized with water, but further records didn't use water. In fact, there was a correction recorded in Acts 10 and 11.  In his excitement, Peter went back to the standard taught while Christ walked the earth:

Act 10:47  Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

Later, he returned to the standard set at the beginning of the Book of Acts:

Act 11:16  Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.

1 Corinthians addresses wrong thinking, and one of the first items Paul mentions concerns baptism:

1 Corinthians 1:13-17 
  Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
  I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
  Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
  And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

1 Corinthians 12:13
  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

The last enemy to be destroyed will be death. Death is not a friend, it is an enemy. The Son of God lives. Baptism of the Spirit is not through death, but through life. Christ was raised from the dead and dies no more. He is the first of many who shall rise when Christ Jesus returns. The dead in Christ shall rise. According to Figures of Speech Used in the Bible by E.W. Bullinger, 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 is a parambole, a brief insertion. The thought leading to verse 29 come directly from verse 19.

1 Corinthians 15:16-19,29
  For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
  And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
  Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
  Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?

Then, he tells people to wake up and believe the Truth. Acts marks a change in who would be called God's People. Formerly, God's people were those of Abraham's children who proceeded from Isaac and Israel and kept the Law. After the Day of Pentacost, all in any place could believe to be born again of God's Spirit. Christ rose, so that is our promise that we will rise, too. We are not baptized to die, but to live.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

140220 Time for Thoughts; Time for Life

I haven't done much writing lately. My thoughts about a year ago were to make this a platform for selling oils. Many of my friends and acquaintances were making an income from selling Young Living Oils, so I thought it was the answer to supporting my children.

Not so much.

I am not a salesman. I miss opportunities. It is hard enough for me to speak to people in general, much less to convince them that they must spend money on something, even if it helps them. The United States of America has too rich a history of snake oil salesmen, charlatans, and cheaters so that and everyone here thinks that everything is bad. Classic wisdom says it best:

Luke 6:41  
"And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?"

Americans seem to think that contention shows wisdom. Every time one person says something is good, three more compete in finding the worst clause or word or appearance that shows that 'good' is 'evil'. For example, some enterprising young man found a way to seal devastating battlefield wounds in seconds. It worked far better than anything currently used and had widespread applications for car accidents and other disasters where people bled profusely. The very first comment on the article I read condemned the practice because it 'might' cause an allergic reaction in a minority of people. Let's crush ALL innovation, because someone might be hurt! Let the majority die; it's so better than discomfort!

I, more than most, recognize that some people have life-threatening allergies. I have my own, but when the choice is dying or dealing with the allergic reaction, I'll take my chances! A 50-50 chance of living through an allergic reaction is far better than 20% or 0% from bleeding out! Oh, wait! That's math! No one does math anymore! That's how Obamacare got passed. The emotional desire for universal health care beat out the reality of the number crunching that so few did. Now, all the predictions of the mathletes are coming to pass, and those who relied on emotion are even more emotional.

Organizing my time can be an emotional decision as well, but rational thinking is required. I have resisted taking a full time job, because Agent needs school, my health has been questionable, and I have no plans to buy any kind of health insurance. Like my educational choices, my medical choices are sanctioned by neither the American Medical Association, nor the government. By removing myself from their standards, however, my health has improved to the point that I can now pursue employment. This means, that I shall have no more time for online activities. My Internet contract ends March 20th. Support for XP ends April 8th. I have yet to find a new service, but did start experimenting with Windows 7.

This is fair warning. My writing can hardly suffer more than it has. If I don't get that full time job, of course I'll find a way to get online! I love my friends. If I disappear, however, work will be why.

Essential Oils: Flu Gone And I Now Function As I Normally Do

Essential Oils: Flu Gone And I Now Function As I Normally Do



This woman thanks God, which is good. God made those natural healing agents. 

Essential Oils: Fastest Headache Reliever I Have Come Across

Essential Oils: Fastest Headache Reliever I Have Come Across



I have been really lazy about posting and coming up with my own writing. Well, this healache stuff really works. I sell it, and I have made my own blends that work on my daughter. My headaches are few, but very stubborn. Nothing seems to work, except doctored coffee, believing prayer, and undisturbed sleep... 



Usually, I just end up growling at more Agent Em and hiding in a dark room.



Thankfully, my headaches don't happen often anymore.

Sunday, February 2, 2014

140202 Trusting God to Live Abundantly

Trusting God to Live Abundantly:
Believers in the Early Church
Sunday, February 2, 2014

Anytime you get into the Word, you want to know what the context is. You want to see how God brought people into or out of a situation. You want to see that real people did real things, and that God cared.

I cannot begin to tell you all the resources I used to put this teaching together, because so much of it is in my head or just notes in my Bible from years of listening to teachings and doing my own research.

(List books from collateral to RECC.)

Acts 19:20
  So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

Seventh Great Statement of Acts on the heals of a massive movement of God's Word. What follows is the Adversary's reaction.

Acts 19:24-32

Gov. Scott Brown tries to balance the budget, and a riot ensues.

Acts 19:33-41 

This is like the political mobs and their rants of today. The mob blamed Alexander for their ills, but all Alexander wanted was to speak the Word. God's Word heals people. 

1Co 11:23-25 
  For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
  And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
  After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

Paul wrote this during the events of Acts 19. What else is in 1 Corinthians? The manifestations, which includes healing.

Isa 53:5  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

1Pe 2:24  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Acts 20:1,6,15-17,38 Paul wrote 2 Corinthians on board ship.

Acts 20:7-12
  ...
  And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.

Young man falls, and is healed. What did Paul write in this section of Acts? His timing included Passover, Resurrection, Pentecost...

2Co 9:8 
  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

For longer than I have been in this ministry, the principle of the tithe has been in my heart. This ministry expanded my understanding of it. More than twenty years ago, I made this and hang it in my home.

1. Demetrius and the silver smiths had their false prosperity, but Alexander. Gaius, and Aristarchus escaped had physical and eternal life.

2. The unnamed youth was healed and restored to life.

The believers of the early church were real people who faced real challenges. They believed what God said. Paul tells them how to abound. Together they trusted God to live abundantly.