This Wonderful Salvation!

Scripture Text: Acts 2:1-4, 37-39; 4:12; Romans 6:1-6

REPENTANCE, in OT typeology, equates with the Brazen Altar... (Jesus' Death/Calvary).

BAPTISM follows suit, equating with the Brazen Laver... (Jesus' Burial). [Note that in Judaism, the Mikveh involves total immersion of the physical (outer)... body.]

HOLY SPIRIT INFILLING, follows the high priest past the Vail, into the Holy of Holies, and the Ark of the Covenant... (Jesus' Resurrection, which changed everything. His Body, now a glorified body, had all power. Where He had been with men [physically], He would now be IN men (a spiritual rebirth)! Through the Holy Ghost outpoured, true resurrection was now possible. Old things passed away - Behold! All things become new!

During the times of Aaronic, high priestly ministry, the people waited outside the tabernacle/temple for the high priest to finish his ministrations and return to the people - his return was evidence their obedient sacrifice (atonement) had been accepted.

As he emerged, the people, (who, while they were waiting, had prostrated themselves before the Lord,) and the high priest began to worship and celebrate. (See II Chron. 7:1-2.)

The Shekinah power that fell that day, (in II Chronicles 7,) meant (was evidence) that God had placed HIS seal of approval on the completed construction of the physical temple - a building made with hands.

Compare this celebration in II Chronicles 7:1-2 with what happened in Acts 2:1-4, and catch a glimpse of why God chose tongues (Isaiah 28:11) as evidence signifying HIS acceptance of obedient faith (John 7:38). Our outward obedience (Us in HIM) (See John 14:15-18, 21.) receives HIS seal of approval/acceptance (HIM IN us). (See John 14:20, 26; 15:4-5.)

GOD’s goal, from the outset, has been to build HIS home in the HEART of men and women (the spiritual/inner man). (See Ezekiel 11:19; 18:31; also Numbers 11:24-29.) This “temple” is not a physical building made by human hands. HE has always desired to build HIS Throne in the heart of man (John 4:23-24). It is this “temple” that receives the confirmation (evidence) HE promised! (See Acts 10:1-6, 44-48; 19:1-6.)

Pastor/Shepherd

Pastor or shepherd, they're one and the same,

They take care of "sheep" and call them by name.

They feed the flock, lead them where they should go;

They guard them from danger, what e'er be the foe.

They know where the water runs cool and deep;

Where the grass is green, and the clover is sweet.

They lead, they don't drive - sheep follow by choice;

They only will listen to their shepherd's voice.

A shepherd keeps watch through dark, stormy nights;

When an enemy attacks, he stands up and fights.

Sheep tend to wander, and wander they will;

But shepherds seek the lost, o'er valley and hill.

Shepherds give from a heart overflowing,

And sheep are content because they are knowing...

They're safe in the care of a shepherd who's faithful;

Comfort like this makes the sheep truly grateful!

~ Marjorie Kinnee
June 20, 2010

Check This Out!

I am posting a link to "We Declare" - a website I recently reviewed and agree with wholeheartedly. (Please see the right sidebar under the category, "Links I enjoy..." for a direct connection to the "We Declare" website.)

I believe it will be a blessing and strength to your faith . . .

~ mjk

Come!

Come - bring all your doubt and fear,

Come - He's calling you to hear,

Come - leave all your wasted years;

Come to Jesus - Come!

Come - says the Spirit,

Come - says the Bride,

Come - if you're thirsty -

You won't be denied;

Come - come today,

Come - don't delay,

Come to Jesus - Come!

Come - Repent your sin and shame,

Come - Be Baptized in Jesus' Name,

Come - Be filled with Holy Ghost flame;

Come to Jesus - Come!

Come - Salvation's full and free,

Come - to life abundantly,

Come - to glorious liberty;

Come to Jesus - Come!

Come - to joy and righteousness,

Come - to peace and holiness,

Come - to life forever blessed,

Come to Jesus - Come!

by mjkinnee
Sept. 6, 2009

Incendiary Remarks

Washington Post Political Cartoon

September 9, 2008

Incendiary remarks stir up strife and focus negative attention on people of faith and obedience.

See link:

http://wpcomics.washingtonpost.com/client/wpc/po/2008/09/09/

This cartoon is highly offensive to Pentecostals everywhere. It brought quick letters of protest to the Post and has garnered a generally negative response by people of faith everywhere. I've heard that a number of letters have been directed to the editor. But in checking the Washington Post website this morning, I found these letters of protest had not been posted. Instead, only e-mailed comments supporting Mr. Oliphant were on display. But as I thought on all these things, the following Scriptures came to mind...

1. "But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used." (Hebrews 10:32-33)
2. "Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be [treated] as reprobates. For we can do nothing against the truth but for the truth." (II Corinthians 13:7-8)
3. "Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets." (Luke 6:22-23)
4. "So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them which trouble you." (II Thessalonians 1:4-6)
5. "For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lust, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: who shall give account to Him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead." (I Peter 4:3-5)
6. "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit and glory of God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified." (I Peter 4:12-14)
7. "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good..." (Genesis 50:20)
8. "In every thing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (I Thessalonians 5:18)
9. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Galatians 6:7)

I am not a fatalist, nor am I passive. But we need to exercise caution, to take heed that our response to persecution of any sort is measured and seasoned with the very Spirit of the One they mock and deride. We dare not retaliate in kind or bring railing accusation. This would put us squarely in the place where angels fear to tread.

We proclaim that our trust is in the Lord Jesus. We declare He is God all by Himself. Building on these two premises - my conclusion is... He is well able to defend Himself.

In this cartoon, Mr. Oliphant has not lampooned an individual, (as he may think,) he has mocked the Spirit of God. In matters public and private, wherever and whenever great wrong has been done, God has declared, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay."

I submit to you today, that even though Mr. Oliphant's cartoon is egregious and offensive, and even though it focuses negative attention upon Pentecostals as whole, it just may be that what Mr. Oliphant intended as mockery and ridicule will turn again and bring great good! Whatever the outcome, God is well able to take care of mockers and we can trust Him to protect His church and prosper the truth.

Therefore, if men are going to call us into question as was done in the book of Acts, let us respond with an Acts-inspired holy boldness!

• "And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto Thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak Thy Word, By stretching forth Thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the Name of Thy Holy Child Jesus."' (Acts 4:29-30)
• "But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets." (Acts 24:14)

We are the people of the Name. We claim to be thoroughly Apostolic in belief, practice and teaching. That means we take our cues from the patterns set forth in the book of Acts...

We pray for holy boldness; we rejoice when counted worthy to suffer shame for His Name's sake; we fight not against flesh and blood but against rulers and principalities, against spiritual wickedness in high places; the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty to the pulling down of strongholds; our minds and our thoughts have been renewed and transformed by the very power Mr. Oliphant mocks; we are clothed in the whole armor of God.

Our method of counterattack is not one of railing accusation, it is the Lord who raises the standard against the onslaught. When His Name, His glory, His Spirit comes into the fray - He will defend and make it abundantly clear not only Who He is, but also the difficulty inherent in "kicking against the pricks."

I feel more than a little sorry for this man - he must not know Jesus. If he did he would not treat the Holy Spirit of God with such disdain, nor would he presume to put words in the mouth of the Almighty. As it is, if he does not seek and find a place of repentance, it might be wise not to be anywhere in the vicinity of Mr. Oliphant.

Then again, who knows? At the moment it is almost the unthinkable considering his track record, but Mr. Pat Oliphant just might be about to have a Damascus Road experience. It wouldn't be the first time an enemy of Christ was transformed into a bold defender of the Truth. Just think, even now the Lord may be preparing some presently unknown Ananias to show him what he ought to do...

Is anything too hard for God?

A Prayer For the Man of God

Oh Lord, I am a sheep of Thy fold,
Safely placed in a shepherd's care;
A man of God watches for my soul,
Driving vultures, fighting lion and bear.

Grant him wisdom and strength to lead the flock.
May his heart beat in tune with Yours,
As he prays and preaches, guides and teaches,
Doing endless ministerial chores.

May his enemies be scattered.
Reward unseen faithfulness and gallantry.
As he watches - watch over him.
Guard his family and his ministry.

For we, who are sheep, are unaware,
Of all that our shepherd goes through,
In keeping, and guarding, and feeding the flock,
Until all come home safely to You.

As he gives - Dear Lord, fill his measure again,
Grant him patience and mercy and grace,
Keep Your hand on this man who carries out Your plan,
May his heart sense the smile on Your face.

~ MJKinnee

Selling Your Inheritance

Last week, I learned that the estate of my girlhood Sunday School teacher was being sold. Through the years she had also became my friend and a mentor who always had time to discuss the things of God. So, hoping to find a memento or keepsake, I made my way to her home. The family was nowhere around. An estate sale firm was managing everything, cars filled the driveway and street.

Everywhere, people were searching through the house and garage; opening drawers, rooting through cupboards, cabinets and bookshelves, and climbing to the topmost closet shelves. If they were children, you’d have said they were snooping. One lady carted off a box of vintage patterns. (I later learned she’d sell them on the internet.) A man had a big box of electrical wiring items, still in the packages. Another woman snapped up an exercise machine. Someone else wanted her garbage cans. Everyone was finding bargains!

With a set of four new handkerchiefs, several greeting cards, (my friend’s tastes were similar to mine,) a piece of cookware to match and complete my set, a flour sifter, an original copy of "The Phenomenon of Pentecost" by Frank Ewart; I headed back through the living room with my "finds" to check out.

No, wait! There on a shelf was a pile of music I’d missed… and a complete set of choir books from the church I grew up in! I could not believe the family had bypassed this trove! Not only did it have sentimental value, but I’ve often heard how difficult it is to find a complete set of the songs our choir sang. This collection spanned twenty five years at least – from the late thirties until the early sixties. No one was paying any attention, but my heart was full. I approached the checkout lady wondering what she would charge. When the price was set at 50 cents a piece, I paid them and hurried my stuff to the car before they could change their minds...

Then sat there a while with thoughts springing up, like Jack’s beanstalk seeds... All the things my friend deemed important, the accumulations of a lifetime, yet she no longer needed them. First, they’d been sorted through by family, then pawed through by strangers in a three-day estate sale. What would happen to the residue, I do not know, but it spoke volumes about what we think is important versus what really matters.

As I leafed through the three books of choir songs, childhood memories rolled as if on a screen; the power of God filling the sanctuary with a visible, blue-ish, smoke-like haze, faithful saints (long gone to their reward,) with hands raised and glory shining from their faces, Bro. Drummond’s broken leg healed right before my eyes, Spirit saturated services making the rafters ring with worship and praise, Bro. N.J. Bibbs (from Indiana) preaching, "Where Will Eternity Find You?" the night I was baptized, the sight of hundreds of white hankies waving in the air as we sang, "In the New Jeruaslem," Sis. Helen Anderson singing, "You Must Be Born Again!", and Bro. Andy Campbell singing the lead-in song for the Sunday afternoon radio broadcast, "Pentecostal Fire is Falling!" with the announcer’s voice over, "Christ Tabernacle Church in beautiful Royal Oak, Michigan is on the air!" Vignettes of a godly heritage and its eternal significance brought tears of thanksgiving and worship.

Then came a question: Is this Truth up for sale in your estimation? What price do you place on the treasure of a clean conscience and sins covered under the Blood of Jesus? Do you appreciate the sacrifices that gave you this golden opportunity? If you do not, someone else will perceive their worth and cart them away. Their gain – your loss... but what a loss! In the company of Esau, Demas, and the foolish virgins, there will be an eternity to remember and regret.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Jesus spoke of "treasure hidden in a field" and "a pearl of great price." A good look at Jesus makes the things of earth lose their luster. To one who perceives His value, no price is too costly, no sacrifice too dear. Ask Abraham, ask Moses, ask Paul, ask the unnamed saints of whom it was said, the "world was not worthy." (Hebrews 11:32-40) The value you place on eternal things determines the value you'll place on anything else.

Peace-work

"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?" (James 4:1, NIV) What is it you want? Are the desires of your heart in accordance with His desires for you? If you get what you want, who stands to profit? Are you seeking things of your own? These are important questions in the present distress and they need to be addressed if we are to avert disaster. Jesus said, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33)

If we would expend the same energy we spend in angst and concerns about our "rights" on seeking the things Jesus identified as the "first" things, we have His assurance that we would find a bumper crop of righteousness. Remember that He also said we would be known as His disciples by the love we show one to another and that we are to abide in Him so we can bear much fruit. James said, "The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." (James 3:18) Quoting Jesus again, "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." (Matthew 4:9)

As I pondered on these things, an awareness of the sacredness of the Body of Christ grew, bringing a strong caution to mind. Not discerning the Lord's Body is a recipe for disaster, both personal and corporate. Those who fight and bite and devour are not serving the Lord Christ. But peace and righteousness are so intertwined as to work in concert in ushering in the Kingdom of Heaven wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, "...be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless." (II Peter 3:14)

Making peace can be hard work, but the rewards are eternal! "And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of rightousness quietness and assurance for ever." (Isaiah 32:17)

"Blessed are the peacemakers!"

Your Best Earthly Friend ...

We all think of our friends when we want to celebrate a victory or a narrow escape and anyone who saves your life must surely be a friend. A friend is there when everyone else is against you. You can tell your secrets and innermost thoughts to a trusted friend and they can be counted on to give you wise counsel and keep private matters private. What about someone who keeps a cool head in times of struggle and helps you deal with your difficulties in a wise way? Would you count them as a friend? Are they your friend if they tell you the truth and then help you find a way to correct your errors and mistakes? The Bible says, “a friend loveth at all times ;" (Proverbs 17:17) and that’s a tall order because between you and me, I, for one, am not always lovable.

Of course, the Lord Jesus Christ is the best Friend we could ever have. But what if there were someone with skin on, someone who fills all the points listed in the first paragraph – what if all these good things were rolled up into one person! Think about it! Wouldn’t you think that would be one very special human friend? Would you like me to introduce you to such a person? I can! It’s the man who watches out for your soul, the one who teaches the truth, not out of his own ideas or theories, but straight out of the Word of God – your pastor!

The Apostle Paul says, “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.” (I Timothy 5:17)

Pastors come in all shapes, sizes, skin colors and ages. Some are gifted preachers, some are inclined to teach, some sing and play an instrument, some can’t carry a tune in a bucket, some are the quiet, observant type, some are the life of the party, some wield the sword of the Spirit with great skill and precision, some are blunt and quick, some are like fierce warriors, some are like a kindly grandpa, some are young and learning as they go, some are great administrators, some are wise delegaters. But the common denominator is their care for the flock of God as a whole – and for the individual souls in their charge. Preaching the Word without deviation and without fear or favor is the balance in which all ministry must be weighed.

The Book of Acts depicts pastors who were led by the Spirit. They taught the Word, lived the Word, held fast to the Word, counselled from the Word and studied the Word. Everything they did in word and deed, was done in the Name of Jesus. (Acts 4:12; Colossians 3:17) Apostolic pastors were required to be faithful. They were to give themselves to prayer and fasting and the study and ministry of the Word. (Acts 6:4; II Timothy 2:15)

Moreover, who can count the worth of the prayers of the man of God? To know that he is bearing your need before the Lord in prayer is valuable indeed. The Apostle James tells us, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16)

In speaking of their rabbis, the Jews emphasize the importance of having objective counsel. This is a sound concept. For when we are caught up in the moment and cannot see clearly because we're emotionally involved with our own will and desires, objective counsel from one who is able to see the picture from an eternal perspective is priceless. Heeding that counsel is wisdom.

There is coming a day when we will all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ to give an account for all we’ve done. No other earthly friend can stand with us on that day – not wife or husband, not child or parent, not mentor or teacher – only this God-given "friend" who had the responsibility of teaching us the truth and watching for our souls in life. We are told that he will give an account and that we should pray that he “may do it with joy and not with grief.” (See Hebrews 13:16-17.)

Learn to value your pastor as God’s gift, “I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” (Jeremiah 3:15) Your pastor’s friendship is strong and true, one that will stand with you through this life and beyond – when all other human friendships cannot. “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the Word of God; whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.” (Hebrews 13:7)