Who You Know

Acts 1 (NLT)

How often have we heard the old adage “It is not what you know, but who you know that counts”? When something at home breaks down and we need it repaired, the first person we look for to help us is someone we know. If we do not know someone to fix it, we call a friend ask who they recommend—someone they know. Our last resort is to Google the issue and call a stranger.

News of their ability to fix it is passed from person to person. This is referred to as word of mouth and is the advertising method for most. Even if you have not experienced their ability to fix it, if you just know them because of the social circle you are in, they are the first one you call. It is all about who you know.

Dunamis is the Greek for Power. It is power for performing miracles, moral power and excellence of soul, the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth, and more. The dictionary defines it as the ability, strength, and capacity to do something and as having the authority to act or do something according to a law or rule.

When you do not know someone and introduce yourself as a friend of someone they know, the walls come down and conversation begins. Association opens a door for trust and a relationship begins. Without the opening of that door, chances on getting to know them would be slim to none.

1 Dear Theophilus: In my first book I told you about everything Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day he ascended to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions from the Holy Spirit. 3 During the forty days after his crucifixion, he appeared to the apostles from time to time and proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. On these occasions he talked to them about the Kingdom of God. 4 In one of these meetings as he was eating a meal with them, he told them, "Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you what he promised. Remember, I have told you about this before. 5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

I believe it is Jesus’ intention for all to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. It is not wrong to be baptized as John baptized. Water baptism is a public confession of our commitment to Christ. I do not believe it maters if that is by sprinkling a few drops of water on one’s head, or by full immersion in a pool of water. It is the public confession that is important. Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior.

However, the results in our lives are not the same. Water baptism creates an opportunity for us to be a part of a group of other confessing believers in the natural; it does not give us access to the Holy Spirit in our daily lives. This is where the disciples were when Jesus told them not to leave Jerusalem until they were baptized in the Holy Spirit. They had received John’s baptism and were followers of Christ, but they were not to go out to minister without the Holy Spirit.

6 When the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, "Lord, are you going to free Israel now and restore our kingdom?" 7 "The Father sets those dates," he replied, "and they are not for you to know. 8 But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere – in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 9 It was not long after he said this that he was taken up into the sky while they were watching, and he disappeared into a cloud. 10 As they were straining their eyes to see him, two white-robed men suddenly stood there among them. 11 They said, "Men of Galilee, why are you standing here staring at the sky? Jesus has been taken away from you into heaven. And someday, just as you saw him go, he will return!"

Notice He tells them (and us) it is when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about Jesus everywhere. This is that dunamis power I spoke of above. The Holy Spirit opens the door for us. He gives us the authority to operate in the name of Jesus. He is the influence we need to go through doors that would have otherwise been closed to us.

We are to reach the lost with the power of the Holy Spirit which is obtained when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, the result of being baptized in the Holy Spirit.

When we attempt to reach the lost without Holy Spirit power, we resort to human marketing methods to win them over. There is no wining people to Christ. When the Holy Spirit is involved, they are drawn to Him.

We can have the best marketing program, run ads on prime time television, and hand out thousands of tracts. Sure, we will fill the institutional churches, increase membership in them, and even fill the coffers with untold tax deductible dollars.

However, the count does not having anything to do with how many were drawn to Christ by the leading of the Holy Spirit; how many were converted from heathen to believer. Do not get me wrong. The campaigns do bring them into the potential presence of the Holy Spirit and they may be drawn to follow Him as an indirect result of the effort.

Yet, Jesus said to be filled the power of the Holy Spirit and then go out into the entire world,

12 The apostles were at the Mount of Olives when this happened, so they walked the half mile back to Jerusalem. 13 Then they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying. Here is the list of those who were present: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the Zealot), and Judas (son of James). 14 They all met together continually for prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.

They listened to what Jesus had told them, and then gathered together to wait for the Holy Spirit. We know this as the “upper room”. We each need to have our own “upper room” experience, and it occurs when we receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is then that we receive the power to go out into the world and preach the good news. It then that the words out of our mouth are not our own, but are those of the Holy Spirit as we allow Him to speak through us. It is then others are drawn to Him.

15 During this time, on a day when about 120 believers were present, Peter stood up and addressed them as follows: 16 "Brothers, it was necessary for the Scriptures to be fulfilled concerning Judas, who guided the Temple police to arrest Jesus. This was predicted long ago by the Holy Spirit, speaking through King David. 17 Judas was one of us, chosen to share in the ministry with us." 18 (Judas bought a field with the money he received for his treachery, and falling there, he burst open, spilling out his intestines. 19 The news of his death spread rapidly among all the people of Jerusalem, and they gave the place the Aramaic name Akeldama, which means "Field of Blood.") 20 Peter continued, "This was predicted in the book of Psalms, where it says, 'Let his home become desolate, with no one living in it.' And again, 'Let his position be given to someone else.' 21 "So now we must choose another man to take Judas's place. It must be someone who has been with us all the time that we were with the Lord Jesus – 22 from the time he was baptized by John until the day he was taken from us into heaven. Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus' resurrection." 23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they all prayed for the right man to be chosen. "O Lord," they said, "you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen 25 as an apostle to replace Judas the traitor in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs." 26 Then they cast lots, and in this way Matthias was chosen and became an apostle with the other eleven.

As they waited they began to better understand the fulfillment of scripture that had already occurred. The pieces of the puzzle were fitting together. In further fulfillment, they elected Matthias to take the place of Judas.

No matter how much logic could be applied to the situation surrounding Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection, man cannot be convinced to become saved. The disciples were not convinced, they were drawn by the Holy Spirit to follow Him, and others will be as well. It is that dunamis power from the Holy Spirit at work in our lives daily.

It is not about how much knowledge we have obtained. It is about who we know, and He is the Holy Spirit.

Friend of God

1 Timothy 3:1
It is a true saying that if someone wants to be an elder, he desires an honorable responsibility. (NLT)

The marketplace is the business arena where we work and shop each week. At work, we are either the boss or work for one. The boss is the person responsible for seeing that the goals of the company are accomplished. His first duty is to the company and its ability to make a profit.

When a businessperson first comes to church as a new member of even as a new believer, many look to him or her as a leader because of their position in the marketplace. The new person may be expected to move into leadership within the church. They might even expect to do so.

The KJV refers to a bishop rather than an elder. The root word is the Greek word Episkope, which means to be an oversight. That person would be the overseer or one of the presiding officers in a Christian church. He would be holding the position of overseership referred to in the Bible as the office of an elder.

In other words, this is someone who is given responsibility over others in a church body, the family of believers that assemble regularly. In a worldly sense, we think of elder as someone who is older than us and wise with wisdom because of their age and experience in life. In the body of Christ the wisdom and experience is all about their walk with God.

We must be careful not to blend the marketplace responsibilities with the church responsibilities. The goals are different. In business, the boss may even force his or her wisdom and knowledge on us. They demand involuntary submission on our part. In the church submission is voluntary. We submit to the elders because we seek their wisdom, experiential knowledge, and spiritual guidance. They are to be an encouragement to us in our walk, not our guide--the Holy Spirit takes us on the journey.

Although a church organization needs finances to pay the bills and function in our society, the "bottom line" is not the primary purpose of its existence. It is the people that come first. As such, the marketplace leader must learn how to lead in an entirely different scenario; with a different protocol.

Holding a title in a church organization does not mean you are any more successful than he who does not. There is no large paycheck or long exotic vacation attached to it. No, with the title comes responsibility to God's children. With it comes commitment to compassion to others.

The first title we should be seeking is "friend of God". We need to develop our relationship with Him. Then we can think about the title at our church; at the body of believers we assemble with to praise God each week.

Were you a friend of God today?

Salvation is a Choice

1 Timothy 2:4
God wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. (NLT)

The world expects certain behavior out of those calling themselves Christians. Society has put anyone with that moniker in a box. The meaning of who a Christian is has been formed by the behavior of a few; none of which representing all Christians.

It doesn’t stop there. Christians expect certain behavior from other Christians as well. Some will only do business with another that claims to be a Christian. Because their expectation is based on their own ideals they may become disappointed if that businessman does not live up to them.

I have heard statements like "They call themselves a Christian so they should know better." This is another example of judging spmeone based on ones own expectations. This should not occur in any relationship if that relationship is to be successful.

He wants all His children to be saved. He wants us all in eternity with Him. Yet He knows many will fall under the spell of the enemy; many will not make it. He does not pick and choose who He wants to be saved and neither should we. We need to stop judging Christians and stop judging those who are not. We need to reach out to all His children and let them have the opportunity to choose.

Many will be saved, but not all will understand the truth. Step one is salvation, but with it does not come understanding.

It is up to each and every one of us to walk out our salvation. We need to press in and dig into His word. We need to talk to God every day. We need to pray without ceasing. He will put us around others that we may learn from. He will fill us with His knowledge.

Salvation is a choice followed with a step of faith. Walking out our salvation takes effort, and it is in walking that we gain understanding.

Did you walk a little more today?

It’s Green

I was walking Tuffy, our five year old Cairn Terrier the other day. As we were heading back to our house I was admiring the lawn. It was green and plush looking, like the fairway on a well kept golf course. This is a big change from twenty-five years ago.

When we first moved into our New England neighborhood I was busy working all the time. The condition of the lawn did not mean anything to me. I would cut it or have it cut by our boys when it absolutly needed to be cut. If it was to grow and be green, I figured God would send the rain. What kind of grass was it, you ask. It was green. Sure it was mixed with what most would call good grass and a lot of weeds and clover. From a distance it looked pretty good, when it was first cut. When you got up close, you could see the patches of dirt where nothing was growing and the mixture of various green growing things all bunched together. Never the less, it was green.

In Florida our grass is different. It is course and green during the rainy season. Ant mounds can be found popping up all over the place. New England grass does not survive in that southern climate. In Florida the watering is very expensive and because of the shortages most of the year, it is usually never allowed. To water cost effectively, you must drill a well and water with the brackage, unpotable water you can pump. Some of our neighbors keep their lawns green with this approach. Even though it is green, it is not like the soft and silky grass up north; the kind you can run barefoot through and have it feel soft and cool underfoot. Walking barefoot on Florida grass can be painful, it is so coarse.

Back in Rhode Island, our grass is still green. However, we planted new grass, added a sprinkler system, and have it mowed once a week. From a distance it has never looked better. Up close there are a few weeds here and there, but you really have to look to find them. My wife, Dianne digs the culprits up and plants new grass to fill the space.

Then I began to reflect on how church, the body of Christ, is like our lawn. As you enter many a church on Sunday morning, it looks pretty good. People of all walks of life are together in their Sunday best worshipping God. Like the green lawn, they all look like they belong together. They appear in one accord.

After you belong for a while you notice the crab grass and even some bare patches. Some have come because they want to be a part of the picture, but are not yet willing to give their life over to Him. They are not willing to let go of the control they have or presume to have over their own destiny.

Then there are those that have no intention of converting. They are from the camp of the enemy and have been placed to infect the good seed. Their purpose is to infiltrate, confuse, and to bring temptation to the body of Christ. Their spot will never be green.

Just because people gather with Christians does not make them a Christian. I am reminded of Jesus’ words in Matthew 7-- “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

As we stay in His Word and build our relationship with Him, we will grow. Our nourishment comes from the Lord and not from man. For man can sound good and look good, but be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. We must test all we hear and experience against the Word of God. It is the Truth.

From a distance the body of Christ is like that green lawn. It looks good. Up close, the weeds blend with the grass. When the harvest comes, only the grass will be with Christ.

GPS

We purchased one of those GPS mapping devices for the car. It is actually a computer with a color screen and even a hard disk drive, just in a small package. On the disk are maps of the entire country. An antenna seeks out one of the global positioning satellites (GPS) and the internal software can tell exactly where on planet earth we are located. Knowing our position, it locates the proper map on the hard drive and displays it. All this in a matter of seconds.

As cool as that is, that is not all. We can input the location we want to drive to and the software maps out the best route for us to take depending on our choice of fastest time or shortest route. And then it speaks to us telling us turn by turn what to do as we progress on our route.

Everyone I know has at least one cell phone; some have more than one. What you may not realize is that every cell phone includes a GPS. As long as the cell phone is turned on, its location can be determined by the cell phone company and other agencies. This is why dialing 911 on a cell phone works. The 911 operator can find out exactly where the call came from and dispatch someone to help.

You can even pay for a service to locate your kid’s phones and even see where they are on your PC on a map. Their route displays in real time.

The GPS for our car is so useful, my wife has nicknamed it her buddy. It is the best backseat driver she has ever had. No need to have exact directions anymore. All she needs is an address and her buddy will get her there. If she makes a wrong turn, it corrects her by suggesting she make a legal u-turn. If she does not comply, it simply figures out another route and continues with its task of guiding her to her destination.

As I thought of how useful the GPS is I realized that GPS could stand for God’s Perfect Spirit. When Jesus left this earth He promised to send the Holy Spirit to live in each believer. Paul refers to Him as the Spirit of Christ and He lives within each of us.

He is our comforter and our guide. As we go through this life on earth, He shows us the way. We still make our own choices every day and as we go off the path, He attempts to bring us back. Often we are so wrapped up in doing it our way, we either miss His guidance or ignore Him. He does not give up. Knowing our destiny, He encourages us in another direction.

The Holy Spirit is God’s Perfect Spirit living in us. He is our GPS. Isn’t it time we gave control over to Him and let Him do the work God designated for Him to do in our lives?

WE HAVE TO ASK

He grants a treasure of good sense to the godly. He is their shield, protecting those who walk with integrity. (NLT Proverbs 2:7)

With the Internet we have a wealth of the world's information at our fingertips. A Goggle search seems to always find something related to the subject matter we are searching for.

The key to a successful search is in knowing what to enter as the search words. But it does not just happen. You have to ask.

The same is true with our walk with God. He sent the Holy Spirit to guide us, but we have to ask. Until we are ready to turn things over to Him, it is like entering our search request into Google and never pressing the Enter key.

It takes more than just thinking about. God may know our thoughts, but He waits for the words to leave our lips. When we pray, He listens.

Did you talk to Him today?

A FULL INSTALL

This is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds so they will understand them, and I will write them on their hearts so they will obey them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. (NLT Hebrews 8:10)

One of the options when installing a new application from Microsoft is to partially install or to install it all. If you do a partial install, everything works fine until you attempt to access a new feature. Then you must put the CD back in so the new feature can be added to the installation.
Although this is in Hebrews, the writer is quoting scripture, old testament prophecy. God is speaking of mankind having the mind of Christ.

As we move from our position in the world to our place in Christ our mindset is changed from carnal to spiritual. When we were saved we were given His mind, the mind of Christ.

No longer are we limited to what we know, to what we have experienced in our lifetime. We don't have to be able to figure it out by our self.

We have the mind of Christ. We have the complete database of eternity at our fingertips. He installed it all. Whatever we need, He will supply. We do not have to go to school to hear it. We don't have to pass a course or get a piece of paper to prove anything.

When we received Him into our life we received it all.