For some people "Pentecostals" is a new word to some. A century again it was rarely part of the average North American's vocabulary. However, it's used has risen steadily, most often in reference to the fastest growing segment of the Christian faith.
Although it has become much more common in recent years, it is not a new word. It goes back to an ancient Jewish feast celebrated the first fruits of the harvest. The Hebrew was primarily an agrarian society and a successful harvest was critical to their well-being.
They celebrated God's blessing and provision for them with a feast, which fell on the fiftieth day after another important feast day, the Passover. But for Christians, Pentecost takes on a different meaning. It marks the birthday of the Church.
The bible also records the first outbreak or outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the earliest believers on the Day of Pentecost.
The Book of Acts records the experiences and teachings of this new movement. Because many of the key players of the Acts church were eyewitnesses to the life and teachings of Jesus, it follows that they would have the clearest insight into the way in which to worship Jesus.
As a result the church in Acts should function as a model to follow when attempting to build a church. However over the centuries the institutional church lost sight of the Acts pattern. Just over a hundred years ago.
Chapter 1
Head Covering
A lot of Apostolic, Pentecostals are asked this? "WHY DONT YOU? OR WHY DO YOU?
And sometimes I wonder why they ask it? Maybe it's because they wonder why we don't do the things they do? Or why we do what the Bible tells us to do?
To a non-believer it can be very hard to understand why we do the things we do. I often get asked how I got my hair so long. And i say, "What is long hair to you"? They will say well long hair or I don't know. I said, "What is long hair? Its uncut hair that is what long hair is.
"WHY DONT YOU"
Ladies cut your hair?
1Corinthians 11:5-15
A. Her Power
B. Glory
C. Covering
D. Subjection
E. Angels.
In verse 13,14, and 15 says.
13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? 14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? 15 But if a woman has long hair; it is a glory to her: for her hair is given to her for a covering.
Same thing goes for men.
"WHY DONT YOU"
Men have long hair?
1 Corinthians 11:7-9,14.
Verse 7, and 9 says
7For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God. (Note: nobody really knows if Jesus has long hair, nobody knows, just because you have a picture of him on the wall, doesn't really mean that he looks like that. Nobody knows what He truly looks like).
7 but the woman is the glory of the man. 8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. 9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
Talking about head coverings and length of hair, Paul is saying that believers should look and behave in ways that are honorable in their own culture. In many cultures long hair on men is considered appropriate and masculine. In Corinth, it was thought to be a sign of male prostitution in the pagan temples. And women with short hair were labeled prostitutes.
Paul was saying that in the Corinthian culture, Christian women should keep their hair long. If short hair on women was a sign of prostitution, then a Christian woman with short hair would find it difficult to be a believable witness for Jesus Christ. Paul wasn't saying we should adopt all practices of our culture but that we should avoid appearances and behavior that distracts from our ultimate goal of being witnesses for Jesus Christ.
Chapter 2
Wear Jewelry
"WHY DONT YOU?"
Genesis 35:2-4 says.
2 So Jacob told everyone in his household, "Get rid of all your pagan idols, purify yourselves, and put on clean clothing. 3 We are now going to Bethel, where I will build an altar to the God who answered my prayers when I was in distress. He has been with me wherever I have gone." 4 So they handed Jacob all their pagan idols and earrings, and he buried them under the great tree near Shechem.
Verse 2
Why did the people have these idols? Idols were sometimes seen more as good luck charms than as gods. Some Israelites, even though they worshiped God, had idols in their homes, just as some Christians today own good luck trinkets.
Jacob believed that idols should have no place in his household. He wanted nothing to divert his family's spiritual focus. And we shouldn't have any in our houses today, but we do. Jacob ordered his household to get rid of their idols. Unless we remove idols from our lives, Such as televisions, statues, other gods, they can ruin our faith. What idols do we have? An idol is anything we put before God. Idols don't have to be physical objects; they can be thoughts or desires. Like Jacob, we should get rid of anything that could stand between us and God.
Verse 4
Why did the people give Jacob their earrings? Jewelry in itself was not evil, but in Jacobs day earrings were often worn as good luck charms to ward off evil. The people in his family had to cleanse themselves of all pagan influences, including reminders of foreign gods.
BREAKING THE LAW:The Gold Calf
Exodus 32:1-4 says
1 When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. "Come on," they said, "make us some gods who can lead us. We don't know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt." 2 So Aaron said, "Take the gold rings from the ears of your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me." 3 All the people took the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. 4 Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf. When the people saw it, they exclaimed, "O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!"
Verse1
Idols again! Even though Israel had seen the invisible God in action, they still wanted the familiar gods they could see and shape into whatever image they desired. How much like them we are! Our great temptation is still to shape God to our liking, to make him convenient to obey or ignore. God responds in great anger when his mercy is trampled on. The gods we create blind us to the love that our loving God wants to shower us. God cannot work in us when we elevate anyone or anything above him. What false gods in your life are preventing the true God from living in you?
Verse 4
Even if we do not make idols, we are often guilty of trying to make God in our image, molding him to fit our expectations, desires, and circumstances.
When we do this, we end up worshiping ourselves rather than the God who created us and self worship, today as in the Israelites' time, leads to all kinds of immorality. What is your favorite image of God? Is it biblical? Is it adequate? Do you need to destroy it in order to worship the immeasurably powerful God who delivered you from bondage to sin?
Exodus 33:4-6 says
4 When the people heard these stern words, they went into mourning and stopped wearing their jewelry and fine clothes. 5 For The Lord had told Moses to tell them, "You are stubborn and rebellious people. If I were to travel with you for even a moment, I would destroy you. Remove your jewelry and fine clothes while I decide what to do with you." 6 So from the time they left Mount Sinai, the Israelites wore no more jewelry or fine clothes.
This was not a permanent ban on all jewelry. It was a temporary sign of repentance and mourning.
A WARNING TO JERUSALEM
Isaiah 3:16-23
16 The Lord says, "Beautiful Zion is haughty: craning her elegant neck, flirting with her eyes, walking with dainty steps, tinkling her ankle bracelets. 17 So The Lord will send scabs on head; The Lord will make beautiful Zion bald." 18 On that day of judgment The Lord will strip away everything that makes her beautiful: ornaments, headbands, crescent necklaces, 19 earrings, bracelets , and veils; 20 scarves, ankle bracelets, sashes, perfumes, and charms; 21 rings, jewels, 22 party clothes, gowns, capes, and purses; 23 mirrors, fine linen garments, head ornaments, and shawls.
Verse 16
The women of Judah had placed their emphasis on clothing and jewelry rather than on God. They dressed to be noticed, to gain approval, and to be fashionable. Yet they ignored the real purpose for their lives. Instead of being concerned about the oppression around them, they were self-serving and self-centered. People who abuse their possessions will end up with nothing. These verses are not an indictment against clothing and jewelry, but a judgment on those who use them lavishly while remaining blind to the needs of others. When God blesses you with money or position, don't flaunt it. Use what you have to help others, not impress them.
1Timothy 2:9
9 And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes.
It is not unscriptural for a woman to want to be attractive. Today, however, to what degree should women take this advice about fixing their hair or wearing gold, pearls, or expensive clothes? Paul was not prohibiting these things; he was simply saying that women should not be drawing attention to themselves through these things. Modesty and decency are the key words. All women would do well to remember that beauty begins on the inside.
A gentle, modest, loving character gives light to the face that cannot be duplicated by even the best cosmetics. A carefully groomed and we'll-decorated exterior is artificial and cold unless inner beauty is present. The general rule for both women and men emphasizes that both behavior and dress must express submission to and respect for Jesus Christ.
1Peter 3:3-4
3 Don't be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 4 You should clothe yourselves instead with beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.
When a man became a Christian, he usually would bring his whole family into the church with him (see for example, the story of the conversion of the Philippian jailer in Acts 16:29-34). By contrast, a woman who became a Christian usually came into the church alone. Under Roman law, the husband and father had absolute authority over all members of his household, including his wife.
Demanding her rights as a free woman in Christ could endanger her marriage if her husband disapproved. Peter reassured Christian women who were married to unbelievers that they did not need to preach to their husbands. Under the circumstances, their best approach would be one of godly behavior: they should show their husbands the kind of self-giving love that Christ showed the church.
By being exemplary wives, they would please their husbands. At the very least, the men might then allow them to continue practicing their faith. At best, their husbands would join them and become Christians, too.
A changed life speaks loudly and clearly, and it's often the most effective way to influence a family member. Peter instructs Christian wives to develop inner beauty rather than being overly concerned about their outward appearance. Their husbands will be won over by their love. This does not mean that Christian women should be dowdy and frumpy; it is good to take care of oneself and look one's best. But far more important is the developing of an inner spirit of godliness. Live your Christian faith quietly and consistently in your home, so that your family will see Christ in you. True beauty begins inside (Proverbs 31:30).
Chapter 3
Wear Makeup
"WHY DONT YOU?"
THE DEATH OF JEZEBEL
2 Kings 9:30-37
30 When Jezebel, the queen mother, heard that Jehu had come to Jezreel, she painted her eyelids and fixed her hair and sat at a window. 31 When Jehu entered the gate of the palace, she shouted at him, "Have you come in peace, you murderer? You're just like Zimri, who murdered his master!" 32 Jehu looked up and saw her at the window and shouted, "Who is on my side?" And two or three eunuchs looked out at him. 33 "Throw her down!" Jehu yelled. So they threw her out the window, and her blood spattered against the wall and on the horses. And Jehu trampled her body under his horse's hooves.
34 Then Jehu went into the palace and ate and drank. Afterward he said, "Someone go and bury this cursed woman, for she is the daughter of a king." 35 But when they went out to bury her, they found only her skull, her feet, and her hands. 36 When they returned and told Jehu, he stated, "This fulfills the message from The Lord, which spoke through his servant Elijah from Tishbe: 'At the plot of land in Jezreel, dogs will eat Jezebel's body. 37 Her remains will be scattered like dung on the plot of land in Jezreel, so that no one will be able to recognize her."
Joram of Israel was wicked like his father and mother, Ahab and Jezebel; therefore, his body was thrown into the field that his parents had unlawfully taken.
Jezebel had arranged the murder of Naboth, the previous owner, because he would not sell his vineyard which Ahab wanted for a garden (1Kings 21:1-24). Little did Ahab know that it would become a burial plot for his evil son. Why did Jezebel refer to Zimri? Zimri was an army commander who, some 40 years earlier, had killed Elah and then had declared himself king of Israel (1Kings 16:8-10). Jezebel was accusing Jehu of trying the same treachery. Jezebel's skull, feet, and hands were all that remained of her evil life no power, no money, no prestige, no royal finery, no family, no spiritual heritage. In the end, her life of luxury and treachery amounted to nothing. Power, health, and wealth may make you feel as if you can live forever. But death strips everyone of all external security. The time to set your life's course is now, while you still have time before your heart becomes hardened. The end will come soon enough.
Proverbs 6:24-26 It will keep you from the immoral woman, from the smooth tongue of a promiscuous woman. 25 Don't lust for her beauty. Don't let her coy glances seduce you. 26 For a prostitute will bring you to poverty, but sleeping with another man's wife will cost you your life.
Regard lust as a warning sign of danger ahead. When you notice that you are attracted to a person of the opposite sex or preoccupied with thoughts of him or her, your desires may lead you to sin. Ask God to help you change your desires before you are drawn into sin.
Ezekiel 23:40-49 "You sisters sent messengers to distant lands to get men. Then when they arrived, you bathed yourselves, painted your eyelids, and put on your finest jewels for them. 41 You sat with them on a beautifully embroidered couch and put my incense and my special oil on a table that was spread before you. 42 From your room came the sound of many men carousing. They were lustful men and drunkards from the wilderness, who put bracelets on your wrists and beautiful crowns on your heads. 43 Then I said, 'If they really want to have sex with old worn-out prostitutes like these, let them!' 44 And that is what they did. They had sex with Oholah and Oholibah, these shameless prostitutes. 45 But righteous people will judge these sister cities for what they really are adulterers and murderers.
46 "Now this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Bring an army against them and hand them over to be terrorized and plundered. 47 For their enemies will stone them and kill them with swords. They will butcher their sons and daughters and burn their homes. 48 In this way, I will put an end to lewdness and idolatry in the land, and my judgment will be a warning to others not to follow their wicked example. 49 You will be fully repaid for all your prostitution your worship of idols. Yes, you will suffer the full penalty. Then you will know that I am the sovereign Lord.
The Israelites went so far as to sacrifice their own children to idols and then to sacrifice to The Lord the same day. This made a mockery of worship. We cannot praise God and willfully sin at the same time. That would be like a person going to bed with a neighbor and then celebrating his or her wedding anniversary.
Chapter 4
Watch Television
"WHY DONT YOU?"
Deuteronomy 7:26
26 Do not bring any detestable objects into your home, for then you will be destroyed, just like them. You must utterly detest such things, for they are set apart for destruction.
Moses warned Israel against becoming ensnared by the idols of the defeated nations by desiring the silver or gold on them. We may think it's all right to be close to sin as long as we don't participate. "After all," we say, "I won't do anything wrong!" But being close can hurt us as we become attracted and finally given in. Avoid the snare of sin by first reigning in your desires. Then stay as far away from sin as you can.
Job 14:4 Who can bring purity out of an impure person? No one!
Life is short and full of trouble, Job laments in his closing remarks to this first round of conversation. Sickness, loneliness, disappointment, and death cause Job to say that life is not fair. Even in his gloom, Job hoped for the resurrection of the dead. If this is true, then Job understood the one truth that could put his suffering in perspective. God's solution to believers who live in an unfair world is to guarantee life with him forever. No matter how unfair your present world seems, God offers the hope of being in his presence eternally. Have you accepted this offer?
Psalms 101:3 I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar. I hate all who deal crookedly; I will have nothing to do with them.
David may have written this psalm early in his reign as king as he set down the standards he wanted to follow. David knew that to lead a blameless life he would need God's help (101:2). We can lead blameless lives if we avoid (1) looking at wickedness ("I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar," 101:3), (2) evil thoughts ("perverse ideas," 101:4), (3) slander (101:5), and (4) pride (101:5). While avoiding these wrongs, we must also let God's Word show us the standards by which to live.
Isaiah 5:20 What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.
When people see no distinction between good and evil, destruction soon follows. It is easy for people to say, "No one can decide for anyone else what is really right or wrong. "They may think getting drunk can't hurt them, extramarital sex isn't really wrong, or money doesn't control them. But when they make excuses for their actions, they break down the distinction between right and wrong. If people do not take God's Word, the Bible, as their standard, soon all moral choices become fuzzy. Without God, they are headed for a breakdown and much suffering.
Lamentations 3:51 My heart is breaking over the date of all the women of Jerusalem.
At one point in his ministry, Jeremiah was thrown into an empty cistern, and he was left die in the mire at the bottom (Jeremiah 38:6-13). But God rescued him. Jeremiah used this experience as a picture of the nation sinking into sin. If they turned to God, he would rescue them.
Matthew 6:13 "And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one."
Matthew 6:22-23
22 "Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your hole body is filled with light. 23 But when your eye is bad, your hole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
God sometimes allows us to be tested by temptation. As disciples, we should pray to be delivered from these trying times and for deliverance from Satan ("the evil one") and his deceit. All Christians struggle with temptation. Sometimes it is so subtle that we don't even realize what is happening to us. God has promised that he won't allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear (1Corinthians 10:13). Ask God to help you recognize temptation and to give you strength to overcome it and choose God's way instead.Spiritual vision is our capacity to see clearly what God wants us to do and to see the world from his point of view. But this spiritual insight can be easily clouded.Self-serving desires, interests, and goals block that vision. Serving God is the best way to restore it. A "good" eye is one that is fixed on God.
Romans 1:28-32
28 Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. 29 Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. 30 They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. 31 They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. 32 They know God's justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.
God does not encourage us to fulfill all our desires (even normal ones). Those desires that violate His laws must be controlled. If you have these desires, you can and must resist acting upon them. Consciously avoid places or activities you know will kindle temptations. Don't underestimate the power of Satan to tempt you, or the potential for serious harm if you continue to yield to these temptations. Remember, God can and will forgive sexual sins just as He forgives other sins. Surrender yourself to God, asking him to show you the way out of sin and into the light of His freedom and His love. Prayer, Bible study, and loving support of Christians in a Bible-believing church can help you to gain strength to resist these powerful temptations.
How were these people aware that God's justice would require death? All human beings are created in God's image; thus, we have basic moral nature and conscience. This truth is understood beyond religious circles. Psychologists, for example, say that the rare person who has no conscience has a serious personality disorder that is extremely difficult to treat. Most people instinctively know when they do wrong but they may not care. Some people will even risk an early death for the freedom to indulge their desires now."I know it's wrong, but I really want it," they say; or "I know it's dangerous, but it is worth the risk." For such people, part of the "fun" is going against God's law, the community's moral standards, common sense, or their own sense of right and wrong. But deep down inside they know that sin deserves the punishment of death.
1Thessalonians 5:22
22 Stay away from every kind of evil.
Christians cannot avoid every kind of evil because we live in a sinful world. We can, however, make sure that we don't give evil a foothold by avoiding tempting situations and concentrating on obeying God.
Titus 2:12
12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God.
Paul brings out two aspects of Christian living that must be stressed today. "We should live in this evil world... While we look coward with hope." Both aspects of living and looking forward are essential to our Christian sanity in this present evil age. The living is made bearable because we live for God seeking to build his Kingdom with whatever gifts he has given us. And it is that very Kingdom to which we are looking forward. As we live and look forward, we anticipate three great benefits of Christ's return:(1) Christ's personal presence we look forward to being with him. (2) Redemption from our sinful nature we long for the end of the battle with sin and our perfection in Christ. (3) Restoration of creation we anticipate the complete rule of grace when the image of God will be fully realized in people and when the created order will be restored.
1 John 2:15,16 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.
Some people think that worldliness is limited to external behavior the people we associate with, the places we go, the activities we enjoy. Worldliness is also internal because it begins in the heart and is characterized by three attitudes:
(1) craving for physical pleaser, preoccupation with gratifying physical desires; (2) craving for everything we see, coveting and accumulating things, bowing to the god of materialism; and (3) pride in our achievements and possessions, obsessions with one's status or importance. When the serpent tempted Eve (Genesis 3:6), he tempted her in these areas. Also, when the devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness, these were his three areas of attack (see Matthew 4:1-11).
By contrast, God values self control, a spirit of generosity, and a commitment to humble service. It is possible to give the impression of avoiding worldly pleasure while still harboring worldly attitudes in one's heart.
It is also possible, like Jesus, to love sinners and spend time with them while maintaing a commitment to the values of God's Kingdom. What values are most important to you? Do your actions reflect the world's values or God's values?
Chapter 5
Listen to anti-Christian music?
"WHY DONT YOU?"
Romans 12:2 Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Paul warned Christians: "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world" that are usually selfish and often corrupting. Wise Christians decide that much worldly behavior is off limits for them. Our refusal to conform to this world's values, however, must go even deeper than just behavior and customs; it must be firmly planted in our mind: "Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think." It is possible to avoid most worldly customs and still be proud, covetous, selfish, stubborn, and arrogant.
Only when then Holy Spirit renews, reeducates, and redirects our mind are we truly transformed.
1Corinthians 15:33 Don't be fooled by those who say such things, for "bad company corrupts good character."
Keeping company with those who deny they resurrection can corrupt good Christian character. Don't let your relationships with unbelievers least you away from Christ or cause your faith to waver.
1Peter 3:11
11 Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
Too often we see peace as merely the absence of conflict, and we think of peacemaking as a passive role.
But an effective peacemaker actively pursues peace by building good relationships, knowing that peace is by product of commitment. The peacemaker anticipates problems and deals with them before they occur. When conflicts arise, they are brought into the open and dealt with before they grow unmanageable. Making peace is hard work you have to search for it and work to maintain it but it results in God's blessing.
Chapter 6
Steal, Lie or gamble
"WHY DON'T YOU"
Exodus 20:15-16
15 You must not steal. 16 "You must not testify falsely against you'd neighbor.
To testify falsely means lying in court. God knows that Israel could not survive unless it's system of justice was incorruptible. We should be honest in our private dealings, as well as in our public statements. In either situation. We "Testify falsely" by leaving something out of a story, telling a half-truth, twisting the facts, or inventing a falsehood. God warns us against deception. Even though deception is a way of life for many people, God's people must not give in to it!
Leviticus 19:13
13. "Do not defraud or rob your neighbor. "Do not make you're hired workers wait until the next day to receive their pay.
"Do not..." Some people think the Bible is nothing but a book of don'ts. But Jesus neatly summarized all these rules when he said to love God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself. He called these the greatest commandments (or rules) of all (Matthew 22:34- 40). By carrying out Jesus's simple commands, we find ourselves following all of God's other laws as we'll.
Jeremiah 22:13
13. And the Lord says, "what sorrow awaits Jehoiakim,* who builds his palace with forced labor.* He builds injustice into its walls, for he makes his neighbors work for nothing. He does not pay them for their labor.
God passed judgment on King Jehoiakim. His father Josiah, had been one of Judas great kings, but Jehoiakim was evil. Josiah had been faithful to his responsibility to be a model of right living, but Jehoiakim had been unfaithful to his responsibility to imitate his father.
God's judgment was unfaithful Jehoiakim. He could not claim his father's blessings when he had not followed his father's God.
We may inherit our parents' money, but we cannot inherit their faith. A godly heritage, a good education, or a beautiful home doesn't guarantee moral character. We must have our own relationship with God.
Ezekiel 22:12 There are hired murderers, loan racketeers, and extortioners everywhere. They never even think of me and my commands, says the Sovereign LORD.
The leaders, whom God chose, were responsible for the moral climates of the nation. The same is true today (see James 3:1). Unfortunately, many of the sins mentioned here have been committed in recent years by Christian leaders. We are living in a time of unprecedented attacks by Satan. We must uphold our leaders in prayer, and leaders must seek accountability in order to help them maintain their moral and spiritual integrity.
Zechariah 5:3
3. Then he said to me, "This scroll contains the curse that is going out over the entire land. One side of the scroll says that those who steal will be banished from the land; the other side says that those who swear falsely will be banished from the land.
The judgment of the flying scroll was leveled against those who violated God's law, specifically by stealing and lying (5:1-4). The woman in a basket personified wickedness and so this vision showed that wickedness would be not only severely punished (the vision of the flying scroll) but also banished (the vision of the woman in a basket, 5:6-9).
A woman in a Basket
Zechariah 5:6-11
5. Then the Angel who was talking with me came forward and said, "Look up and see what's coming." 6. "What is it?" I asked. He replied, "It is a basket for measuring grain,* and it's filled with sins* of everyone throughout the land." 7. Then the heavy lead cover was lifted off the basket, and there was a woman sitting inside it.
8. The Angel said, "The woman's name is Wickedness," and he pushed her back into the basket and closed the heavy lid again. 9. Then I looked up and saw two women flying toward us, gliding on the wind. They had wings like a stork, and they picked up the basket and flew into the sky. 10. "Where are they taking the basket?" I asked the Angel. 11. He replied, "To the land of Babylonian,* where they will build a temple for the basket. And when the temple is ready, they will set the basket there on its pedestal.
The woman in a basket was carried away "to the land of Babylonia," which had become a symbol for the center of world idolatry and wickedness. This woman was a picture to Zechariah that wickedness and sin would be taken away from Israel and one day sin would be removed from the entire earth.
When Christ died, he removed sin's power and penalty. When we trust Christ to forgive us, he removes the penalty of sin and gives us the power to overcome sin in our life. When Christ returns, he will remove all sin from the earth, allowing people to live in eternal safety insecurity.
Jesus Speaks To The Rich Young Man
Matthew 19:16-18
16. Someone came to Jesus with this question: "Teacher,* what good deed must I do to have eternal life?" 17. "Why ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. But to answer your question-if you want to receive eternal life, keep* the Commandments." 18. "Which ones?" The man asked. And Jesus replied: "You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely.
To this man seeking assurance of eternal life, Jesus pointed out that salvation does not come from good deeds unaccompanied by love for God. The man needed a whole new starting pointed. Instead of adding another commandment to keep or good deed to perform, the young man needed to submit humbly to the lordship of Christ.
In response to the young man's question about what good deed he needed to do in order to be assured of eternal life, Jesus told him to keep God's Ten Commandments. Jesus then listed six of them, all referring to relationships with others, when the young man replied that he had kept the commandments, Jesus told him that he must do something more-sell everything and give the money to the poor.
Jesus statement exposed the man's weakness. In reality, his wealth was his god, his idol, and he would not give it up. Thus, he violated the first and greatest commandment (Exodus 20:3 Matthew 22:36-40).
Love fulfills God's Requirements
Romans 13:9 For the commandments say, "you must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.* These-and other such commandments- are summed up in this one commandment: "Love your neighbor as yourself."*
Some how many of us have gotten the idea that self-love is wrong. But if this were the case, it would be pointless to love our neighbors as ourselves. But Paul explains what he means by self-love. Even if you have low self-esteem you probably don't willingly let yourself go hungry.
You take care of your body and may even exercise. You clothe yourself reasonably well. You make sure there's a roof over your head. You try not to let yourself be cheated or injured. This is the kind of love we need to have for our neighbors. Do we see that others are fed, clothed, and housed as well as they can be? Are we concerned about the issues of social justice? Loving others as ourselves means actively working to see that their needs are met. Interestingly people who focus on others rather are than on themselves rarely suffer from low self-esteem.
Ephesians 4:28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need.
We can bring sorrow to the Holly Spirit by the way we live. Paul warns us against unwholesome language, bitterness, improper use of anger, harsh words, slander, and bad attitudes towards others. Instead of acting that way, we should be forgiving, just as God has forgiven us. Are you bringing sorrow or pleasing God with your attitudes and actions? Act in love toward your brothers and sisters in Christ, just as God acted in love by sending his Son to die for your sins.
Chapter 7
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"WHY DON'T YOU"
Proverbs 20:1
1. wine produces mockers; alcohol leads to brawls. Those led astray by drink cannot be wise.
A person Who is truly confident and his or her strength does not need to parade it. A truly brave person does not look for chances to prove it. A resourceful person can find a way out of the fight and avoid retaliating. Foolish people find it impossible to avoid strife. Men and women of character can. What kind of person are you?
Isaiah 5:11
11. What sorrow for those who get up early in the morning looking for a drink of alcohol and spend long evenings drinking wine to make themselves flaming drunk.
These people spent many hours drinking and partying, but Isaiah predicted that eventually many would die of hunger and thirst. Ironically, our pleasure-if they do not have God's blessing-may destroy us. Leaving God out of our lives allows sin to come in. Pursuing our own pleasure while ignoring or exploiting the needs of others leaves us empty and under God's anger. God wants us to enjoy life (1Timothy 6:17) but to avoid those activities that could lead us away from him.
Habakkuk 2:15
15. "What sorrow awaits you who make your neighbor's drunk! You force your cup on them so you can gloat over their shameful nakedness.
Babylon's riches had come from the misfortunes of others, but these riches would only be fuel for the fire. The victims and their cities would cry out against Babylon. Money is not evil, but God condemns the love of riches and the evil means of acquiring them (1Timothy 6:10) Be careful not to hunger for wealth so much that you lose your appetite for God. Do not allow money to take the place of family, friends, or God.
1Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Our actions must be motivated by God's love so that all we do will be for his glory. Keep this as a guiding principle by asking, "Is this action glorifying God?" Or "How can I honor God through this actions?"
Colossians 2:21-22
21. "Don't handle! Don't taste! Don't touch!" 22. Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them.
We can guard against man-made religions by asking these questions about any religious group: (1) Does it stress man made rules and taboos rather than God's grace? (2) Does it foster a critical spirit towards others, or does it exercise discipline discreetly and lovingly? (3) Does it stress formulas, secret knowledge, or special visions more than the Word of God? (4) Does it elevate self-righteousness, honoring those who keep the rules, rather than elevating Christ? (5) Does it neglect Christ's universal Church, claiming to be in an elite group?
(6) Does it teach humiliation of the body as a means to spiritual growth rather than focus on the growth of the whole person? (7) Does it disregard the family rather than hold it in high regard as the Bible does?
In verse 23 of Colossians says,
23. These rules may seem wise because they require a strong emotion, self-denial, and have severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help and conquering the purses evil desires.
Titus 2:11-12
11. For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 12. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and simple pleasures.
We should live in this evil world with wisdom, like useless, and devoted to God.
Paul brings out two aspects of Christian living that must be stressed today. "We should live in this evil world... While we look forward with hope." Both aspects of living and looking forward are essential to our Christian sanity in this present evil age. The living is made bearable because we live for God- seeking to build his kingdom with whatever gifts he has given us. And it is that very Kingdom to which we are looking forward. As we live and look forward, we anticipate three great benefits of Christ's return:
(1) Christ's personal presents-we look forward to being with him. (2) Redemption from our sinful nature-we long for the end of the battle with sin and our perfection in Christ. (3) Restoration of creation-we anticipate the complete rule of grace when the image of God will be fully realized in people and when they created order will be restored.
Chapter 8
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For some people "Pentecostals" is a new word to some. A century again it was rarely part of the average North American's vocabulary. However, it's used has risen steadily, most often in reference to the fastest growing segment of the Christian faith.
Although it has become much more common in recent years, it is not a new word. It goes back to an ancient Jewish feast celebrated the first fruits of the harvest. The Hebrew was primarily an agrarian society and a successful harvest was critical to their well-being.
They celebrated God's blessing and provision for them with a feast, which fell on the fiftieth day after another important feast day, the Passover. But for Christians, Pentecost takes on a different meaning. It marks the birthday of the Church.
The bible also records the first outbreak or outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the earliest believers on the Day of Pentecost.
The Book of Acts records the experiences and teachings of this new movement. Because many of the key players of the Acts church were eyewitnesses to the life and teachings of Jesus, it follows that they would have the clearest insight into the way in which to worship Jesus.
As a result the church in Acts should function as a model to follow when attempting to build a church. However over the centuries the institutional church lost sight of the Acts pattern. Just over a hundred years ago.
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"Being Pentecostal"
Although it has become much more common in recent years, it is not a new word. It goes back to an ancient Jewish feast celebrated the first fruits of the harvest. The Hebrew was primarily an agrarian society and a successful harvest was critical to their well-being.
They celebrated God's blessing and provision for them with a feast, which fell on the fiftieth day after another important feast day, the Passover. But for Christians, Pentecost takes on a different meaning. It marks the birthday of the Church.
The bible also records the first outbreak or outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the earliest believers on the Day of Pentecost.
The Book of Acts records the experiences and teachings of this new movement. Because many of the key players of the Acts church were eyewitnesses to the life and teachings of Jesus, it follows that they would have the clearest insight into the way in which to worship Jesus.
As a result the church in Acts should function as a model to follow when attempting to build a church. However over the centuries the institutional church lost sight of the Acts pattern. Just over a hundred years ago.
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