Your Wedding Day

One day you will be a beautiful bride. There will be more fanfare, and better food at your wedding than there was at Chelsea Clinton’s last Saturday. Your dress will be prettier than the one Chelsea wore. Her dress was designed by Vera Wang. Your dress will be made by a famous designer too – one of almost heavenly rankings. Your hair will be done perfectly. Your eyes will shine bright, and your complexion will be smooth and clear.

But whereas Chelsea’s wedding date was set for July 31st, your wedding as an undetermined date. But rest assured the timing will be just right and the weather will cooperate perfectly.

And who will be at your wedding? Some family, some friends, and some people you’ve never met before. But all will be dressed in their finest, just like Mary Steenburgen and Madeline Albright were at Chelsea’s wedding.

And just who are you marrying you ask? Why Jesus Christ of course! He is preparing His bride – the church to attend the marriage supper of the lamb. To be joined with Him for all eternity:

“Then I heard the sound of massed choirs, the sound of a mighty cataract, the sound of strong thunder:


Hallelujah!


The Master reigns,


our God, the Sovereign-Strong!


Let us celebrate, let us rejoice,


let us give him the glory!


The Marriage of the Lamb has come;


his Wife has made herself ready.


She was given a bridal gown


of bright and shining linen.


The linen is the righteousness of the saints.


“The Angel said to me, "Write this: 'Blessed are those invited to the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.'" He added, "These are the true words of God!" (Revelation 19:8-10)

You see becoming part of the bride of Christ is an obvious part of living every day with Jesus. That is why baptism is so important. Because it is in baptism that we take on the name of Christ – just as a bride takes on her husband’s last name. And it is in baptism that we are ceremonially buried with Jesus Christ, and our sins are completely washed away. Then and only then do we begin to walk in the newness of life that Jesus Christ spoke about when He walked the earth.

Who Is Saved?

My friend Susan* and I were chatting the other day about a boy we know named Seth* who has been on several mission trips to Haiti, Guatemala and South Africa. Seth is only 22 years old, and has not only served as a worker on these trips, but also recently headed up a project to take a group of high schoolers from his CCD class, back to Haiti to experience for themselves what it’s like to serve in a 3rd world country.


“I’ll be glad when Seth is saved.” My friend said.

Her statement startled me. Let me explain why:

My friend and I both believe the Apostolic doctrine clearly spelled out in the book of Acts which says to repent, be baptized in Jesus name, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost with speaking in tongues. (Acts 2) However, Susan clearly saw Seth as a poor misguided, doomed to hell soul that needed redemption. I on the other hand saw Seth as a passionate disciple of Christ who simply had not come to an understanding of the fullness of the truth yet.

Susan’s attitude really bothered me. Who’s right? This is an answer I’ve been contemplating a lot lately. What do you think? Based on the scripture below, the people that Paul spoke to were already disciples, ie believers.

So my question to you today is based on the scripture and the dilemma I presented, whose approach is more Christlike? (I’m not looking to prove anything. I just would honestly like some feedback.)

“ And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,


He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.


And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.


Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.


When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.


And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.” (Acts 19:1-6)

*Not real names

Random Thoughts

I love this quote:

"There would be no hope for you if you were to pray in your own name. But listen! You are to pray in the name of JESUS. It is for Jesus' sake that you are to recieve what you ask for." - O. Hallesby

It makes me think of the scripture in John 14:13 that says:

"Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."

It is so true! The name of Jesus is so powerful. At his name demons tremble and healings happen. But it's important to note that one must have a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with Jesus Christ and have applied his blood to your life by being "buried with him in baptism". That is where we take on the name of Jesus and have it applied to our lives. Otherwise, we do not have the authority to invoke the name of Jesus. That is why when the sorcerers in the Bible tried to invoke the name of Jesus to earn profits because they saw the powerful works the disciples were doing nothing happened.

So, if you're struggling today to feel like you are on top of things and triumphant then spend some time reading the book of John and/or the book of Acts in the Holy Bible. The book of John will tell you all about the love of Jesus Christ and the book of Acts will explain to you how to recieve the Holy Spirit, the importance of Jesus name baptism and the all about the empowerment that comes and the promise of eternal salvation once you've been baptized in Jesus name and recieved the Holy Spirit.

Those are my random thoughts for today....

Sending you lots of hugs,



Debbie

Pentecost Sunday

Today is Pentecost Sunday and since the Pentecostal experience is a huge part of my walk of faith, I wanted to share a little about it's history and how speaking in an uknown holy tongue as the physical sign of the indwelling of the Holy Ghost has radically transformed my life. I have a writer friend who explains it better than I do. Her name is Vi Moore. Vi has this to say about Pentecost:

"Pentecost, originally a Jewish celebration fifty days after Passover, is now recognized as the birth of the Christian church. The New Testament second chapter of Acts is the common reference to the first audible and visible outpouring of the Holy Spirit, even on Mary the mother of Jesus. “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers,” (Acts 1:14, NKJV). Apostle Paul first mentions the importance of this celebration after he was filled with the Holy Spirit, “For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost,” (Acts 20:16, NKJV). Again St. Paul mentions Pentecost in his letter to the church at Corinth, Greece, “In the meantime, I will be staying here at Ephesus until the Festival of Pentecost,” (1 Corinthians 16:8, New Living Translation). That historical annual Jewish Feast which took place fifty days after the Passover was conferred with a greater meaning when it was heavenly ordained as the beginning of the New Testament Christian church. It is both ironic and sad that while major traditional churches in Christendom who will celebrate with colorful ceremonies tomorrow have not experienced Pentecost. Others who have a personal Pentecost with the baptism of the Holy Spirit, will let this day slip by unrecognized."

But Pentecost is so much more than a day to celebrate, or even an experience to have. It is a lifestyle of living with the empowerment of the living God. So many people know God, love God and serve God in all they know, but they have yet to experience the powerful and dynamic presence of the holy God they serve by recieving the Holy Ghost like they did in the book of Acts. (See Acts 2,8,10 and 19) The Apostle Paul came across many honest, faithful people like this while on his missionary journeys. As a matter a fact he told the believers at Ephesus :

"Have ye recieved the Holy Ghost since ye believed?" and their response was "We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost!"  (Acts 19-1-3) Paul then goes on to explain to them about water baptism and the infilling of the Holy Ghost as evidenced by tongues and it says in verse 4 "and they were baptized, and spoke with tongues and prophesied"

Oh my precious reader, the Holy Ghost is for you today too! Read the book of Acts and pray for God to fill you full to overflowing.

I was so privildeged to speak at the Maranatha Bible Church yesterday to their women's group. They are a dynamic group of Bible believing women. As I spoke the Holy Ghost moved, God's presence was there so strong! With all my heart, I wanted them to experience this life changing infilling of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues. I did tell them of Acts 19 and what Paul asked the Ephesian church, but I stopped short of challenging them to recieve it for themselves. A few of them came up to me afterwards and told me that they HAD RECIEVED THE HOLY GHOST WITH TONGUES! This made me so happy!! (I will write more about these incredible women in the days to come)

But for today, my prayer for you is that you embrace ALL GOD HAS FOR YOU - including the HOLY GHOST!!

Hugs,

Debbie