First trusted in Christ

Ephesians 1:12-14
(12) That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

I have found a 2 fold revelation of this verse -

I do believe it is referring to the fathers of Israel as per Psalm 22

Psalms 22:3-5
(3) But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
(4) Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
(5) They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.

The Jews trusted in Christ because Christ is God, so therefore that is a powerful statement of Paul's revelation of God in Christ to state that the Jews FIRST trusted in Christ.

I also see the fact that God first TRUSTED in CHRIST. (Which is also Paul quoting from Psalm 18:2 and 22:22 ) and Christ first TRUSTED in God.

Hebrews 2:12-13
(12) Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. (Psalm 22:22)
(13) And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

The revelation I would like to share is that the gospel of eternal salvation manifested through Jesus Christ is completely based up TRUST. God TRUSTED Christ, Christ TRUSTED God. It was the perfect example of TRUST between mankind and God. This is what makes a relationship have that special ring to it, when both parties TRUST one another. It is quite remarkable that the plan of God works through man, which was FIRST done in Christ and then passed to the Apostles. When man trusts God and God trusts man, this is what brings the real anointing and the moving of the Spirit of God.

There is a Biblical example to us as believers of the TRUST between Christ and His Church, it is MARRIAGE. I look up to couples that make it 20, 50+ years together and still have that TRUST for one another. You can tell that they are happy and it affects the rest of the areas of their life when TRUST is in the home. So it is with the children of God that He can TRUST with His gospel, and the children of God that TRUST God without reservation. This is the environment for a strong foundation in the life of a child of God. Without this TRUST the walk with God would be mechanical, just as a wife that does not completely TRUST her husband, the relationship is mechanical.

Notice:

(13) In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
(14) Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

When a man and wife seal their relationship with marriage vows, etc... it is based on TRUST for one another. The same relationship is between Christ and the Church, which was the TRUST between Christ (man) and God (the Spirit).

Baptism in Jesus name is that MARRIAGE vow in the Spirit. This is why Peter commanded Cornelis to be baptized in the NAME of the Lord Jesus after his group received the "sealing" (Holy Ghost).
Acts 10:44-48

The wife takes the name of the husband and then TRUSTS Him.

Cornelius trusted just as the Fathers of Israel trusted, when are dealing with such a lovely and perfect God, it is not hard to TRUST Him. God's plan's for Cornelius were to make him better, the same is for us today.

Jeremiah 29:11-14
(11) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
(12) Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
(13) And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
(14) And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

We serve that same Faithful God... Praise God for His Goodness!

The Mind of Christ

Where does Spiritual Authority come from? Is the Church run by the ability and minds of mortal men? This was the case for the Pharisee's and Sadducee's which earned them STIFF rebukes by our LORD. Who in this world is worthy to judge other men? The answer is no one without the power of Calvary. This is the very point why our LORD had to die at the cross.

Isaiah 59:15-16
(15) Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.
(16) And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.


Revelation 5:4-5
(4) And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

(5) And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

However, our LORD also commissioned and empowered His disciples to take this authority so that Truth will prevail and there will be JUDGMENT. This was not intended for man to take upon himself, but this is in fact the repeated cycle in the history and present time of mankind. Many "churches" (as titled so) have folks that are educated, talented, charismatic, perhaps even very sincere, but that does not entitle these folks to take on the commission of our Lord Jesus Christ. The commission of the LORD was given in the gospels (Matthew 28:19, Luke 24:44-47, Mark 16:16) however this commission was not ENACTED completely, the authority of Jesus' ministry was not COMPLETELY transferred to the Apostles until the day of Pentecost.

For proof of this we can take the words of Jesus Christ to Simon Peter:

Luke 22:31-32
(31) And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
(32) But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.


Satan is on the prowl to make sure the men that God has chosen to invest His authority in are taken away. He desires to HAVE these men. But these men belong to God, notice that the only way they will not be taken by Satan is that their FAITH FAIL NOT, but also more importantly that they have a CONVERSION. Notice that the conversion is not simply a BELIEF in Jesus Christ. Peter at this point in his walk with God for over 3 years, has eaten with Him, was called the Petros (Rock) and given the keys to the Kingdom PRIOR to this conversation yet the LORD told Peter that His CONVERSION was in the future. This is referring to the day of Pentecost when Peter and the 120 believers in the upper room would be FILLED with the HOLY GHOST. That AND ONLY that is what gives the AUTHORITY of GOD to man, because GOD invested HIMSELF in man. The Holy Ghost is not a concoction of emotions nor some sort of mind control, it is a GIFT from God.

1 Corinthians 2:12-16
(12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
(13) Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
(14) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
(15) But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
(16) For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

We live in a very carnal world, much like the days of the Noah, and have many examples of even God's people being misled through the History of Israel after the reign of David and all the rebellion that came up in the people. This is the result of carnal minds, and the same has happened to our world today. God does not intend His Church to be run by "brute beasts".

2 Peter 2:1
(1) But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2 Peter 2:12
(12) But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

The truth that I have discovered and would like to potray, is that every one of us have this "brute beast" potential inside of us. Therefore, not a single one of us can stand on our own righteousness and declare that our interpretation of scripture is correct and everyone else must bow down to our authority. The LORD was VERY angry at the folks that have taken up this attitude. However, as an Apostolic Church we are scrutinized and accused of this very thought.

I had a discussion with my father about Scripture this week and mentioned to me that God is so infinitely more wise than man, that though man can create a "pun" that may have two or three applications, the LORD's Living Word has much more Wisdom as it has timeless and multiple applications for human beings. This though enlightened my mind and heart and I realized the walk that God has given to my life and how without a doubt the things that I am standing on are not from the heart of man, but indeed are the mind of Christ. I then recalled what Paul said in 2 Corinthians and realized that the Church is only standing if men will get Spiritually Minded, meaning we surrender our thoughts to the greater power. This is how one will received the Holy Ghost by SURRENDERING to the thoughts of God and ALLOWING HIS WORD and HIS SPIRIT to control us. This being the case, the LORD is USING men to give HIMSELF to man. This is what Jesus was the perfect example of, and what we as the children of God are striving to maintain. Therefore, the Apostolic Church is in fact God's authority THROUGH man.

This is why Satan desired to have Peter, to steal him and the souls that God would use Peter to disciple, But thank God we know that Jesus didn't give up on Peter, and I thank God that we can say the same thing today. Peter gave Himself to God, and just like Jesus was God manifest in the flesh, when the Holy Ghost came on the Apostles, the SPIRIT was now in multiple bodies. Submitting to this Spirit is how the Apostolic Church was built, and today is the exact same formula.

When you see this right, the Church is DIVINE, you thank God (and today how thankful I am) to have Spiritual leadership that is surrendered to God's Spirit. I also believe that when a seeker becomes sincere and seeks God for help, they will be led to this same path, a man of God will come into their life.

The Definition of Apostolic

Apostolic - pertaining to the Apostles of Jesus Christ. Refers to the doctrine and teachings of the first age of the Christian Church directly following the death of Jesus Christ and the Day of Pentecost is called the Apostolic Age. The following portion of Acts 2 is the FIRST SERMON of the Church. No matter what denomination of Christianity one may espouse to, the following text is absolutely agreed to be the FIRST SERMON of the Apostles. Keep in mind that Jesus gave Peter the keys to the kingdom in Matthew 16:19, and said that whatever Peter bound in earth would be bound in heaven.

Acts 2:36-42

(36) Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

(37) Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

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

(39) For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

(40) And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

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

(42) And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Verse Acts 2:38 is the FOUNDATION teaching of the Apostolic Church. Notice that it was Peter that preached this verse, and he stated that all that heard his message must:

Repent of Sins

Be Baptized in Jesus Name for Remission of Sins

Receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost

Apostolic Doctrine is the teachings of Jesus as taught to us through the writers of the New Testament. If you keep it simple, Jesus wrote no part of the New Testament using His human hand. We believe the words of Jesus THROUGH the words of the Apostles, therefore it would be ignorant to make a statement that we believe on the words of Jesus rather than the words of the Apostles because Jesus did not write any of it. It is completely impossible to trust the words of Jesus Christ without trusting the Apostles that Jesus chose to write the New Testament through. The words of the Apostles ARE the word of God.

John 17:20-21

(20) Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

(21) That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Now understanding that Peter being the chosen vessel of Jesus Christ (in Matthew 16), we understand that he was given the responsibility of founding the Church and he was told NOT to leave Jerusalem until he was endued with power from on High. This is indeed what happened to Peter, he was filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:4) and spoke with other tongues as the Spirit gave him utterance. Once that occurred to the Apostles, they were given the commission of Jesus Christ to PREACH AND TEACH the GOSPEL, to make DISCIPLES of all nations. This is the call of God on these men's lives. What is amazing to me is that most of my life I did not know what Peter preached. Even though I did know a lot about the Gospels and Epistles of Paul, I was never introduced or studied the book of Acts. What amazes me still to this day is that fact that the book of Acts Chapter 2, the preaching of Peter's message is FULL of quotations from the Old Testament. Peter quotes from Joel, Psalms, and Isaiah and all of the content of his message is telling the people around him the direct Revelation that God gave him of these scriptures. For example:

Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

Joel 2:29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

Peter quoted these 2 verses and said that what they were experiencing on the Day of Pentecost was in fact what Joel had told Israel hundreds of years before. He said "THIS IS THAT which was spoken by the prophet Joel". That means the speaking in tongues and the Holy Ghost experience that had just happened to the people was a fulfillment of the scriptures.

That is just the tip of the iceberg of that Chapter, all I can tell you is that Peter received DIVINE Revelation from God and what he preached in Acts 2 is not a "religion" it was DIVINE fulfillment of the Old Testament Prophets.

I don't mean to get too deep in this study, but let me return to the definition of Apostolic. God told us he had a plan in the prophets:

Amos 9:11-12

(11) In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:

(12) That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this.

God said that He was going to rebuild the tabernacle of David. The simplest understanding of what God means is that He wants to restore His people to be what they were in the time of King David's rule, a people that LOVED God and worshiped God. God is telling us in this scripture that He would rebuild this relationship that had fallen. To understand what this means to us first let me describe the items that were in the tabernacle required by God for the priests to obey in order to be cleansed of their sins (had to be done once a year) and for the atonement of sin.

Now I am going to try to make this part very simple and easy to grasp. Please bear with me as I go through this portion, it is so important that I explain that Acts 2:38 is not a man made teaching. It actually comes from the entire Bible. Peter spoke a DIVINE revelation when he preached on the day of Pentecost and I want to at least lay out the basics of what Peter preached:

The 3 major portions of the tabernacle (rather you speak of Moses' or David's)

Brazen Altar - BLOOD

Brazen Laver - WATER

Ark of the Covenant (Holy of Hollies) - SPIRIT

(there is a difference between Moses' and David's Tabernacle but I will not get into that in this study)

Ok, so remember these 3 symbols given to use by God. BLOOD. WATER. SPIRIT.

Now let's see how deeply embedded into the Old and New Testament this message really is:

1 John 5:8-9

(8) And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

(9) If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

The Apostle John tells us that BLOOD, WATER, and SPIRIT agree IN ONE. He also calls these the "witness of God" and he tells us that the witness of God is GREATER than the witness of man.

Simple concept to absorb, you DO NOT WANT simply the witness of man about your soul and your salvation. I have experienced this first hand with the "denominational churches", they are into convincing folks that they are "SAVED" and train them to be so assured of it.

You ever notice that folks that truly have something don't need to put on about having it? I noticed in my life that insecurity causes folks to continually try to prove their security when in fact they are not secure at all. In the case of Salvation, people that truly have it don't need to flaunt or talk down about others to be secure. This is a flaw in quite a number of people claiming Christianity and for many years it pushed me away from all of it.

Notice what John said in that verse:

"... The witness of God is GREATER"

What this means is convincing yourself of "being saved" or hype that is really what most churches are about. The scripture calls that "the witness of men"

So how do you get the witness of God? We know that it involves BLOOD WATER and SPIRIT as per the verse we just read. So how does that happen?

John 3:5

(5) Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Jesus Died - BLOOD

Jesus was Buried - WATER

Jesus Rose Again - SPIRIT

When Peter preached Acts 2:38, he was OBEYING Jesus' teaching in John 3:5.

REPENTANCE - BLOOD

BAPTISM in JESUS NAME - WATER

RECEIVE HOLY GHOST - SPIRIT

Therefore, the true Gospel message of Jesus Christ is that Jesus DIED, Jesus was BURIED, Jesus ROSE AGAIN. This is spoke to us in 1 Corinthians 15:1-5 by Paul. So remember this the GOSPEL or the GOOD NEWS is the DEATH, BURIAL, and RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ.

How do we obey the GOSPEL?

REPENTANCE - DEATH

BAPTISM - BURIAL

HOLY GHOST - RESURRECTION

Finally to conclude this study is the words of Paul in Romans:

Romans 6:3-7

(3) Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

(4) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

(5) For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

(6) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

(7) For he that is dead is freed from sin.

So to conclude:

The Apostolic Church foundation is Acts 2:38 which is Peter's obedience to what Jesus taught in John 3:5, Matthew 28:19, Luke 24:47, and Mark 16:16, it is the fulfillment to the Tabernacle plan of the Old Testament and is the Only Bible method of being born again.

Of course this is only skimming the surface of the significance of BLOOD WATER, and SPIRIT. You will find that EVERY example of SALVATION in the entire Bible is based on these symbols. (Noah, Moses, David, etc...)

Also very important that I say this: Although the Apostolic Church is not Catholic or Protestant, it is not a "heretical" church. Jehovah Witness, Mormonism, Unitarianism are all examples of heretical churches that are not "orthodox". The reason these are heretical is because they are not faithful in teaching the Apostles Doctrine. What a truth seeker must ask him/her self when seeking the Truth is to ask the question- did the Apostles teach this? What did the Apostles do about this... etc...

So I will leave you with a list of Apostolic Doctrines that should be examined by anyone who wants to know the truth about the Bible and wants to be born again according to the scriptures and not according to the traditions of men.

The Apostles preached that Jesus Christ is God Himself manifest in flesh.

1 Timothy 3:16

(16) And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

The Apostles preached baptism in Jesus Name for the remission of sins:

Acts 2:38-39

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

(39) For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

The Apostles preached that the fulness of the Godhead was IN Jesus Christ they also warned us not to let philosophy, tradition, or the world spoil us from this revelation.

Colossians 2:8-9

(8) Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

(9) For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

The Apostles taught the Oneness of God (the doctrine of the trinity came from philosophy)

Ephesians 4:4-6

(4) There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

(5) One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

(6) One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

The Apostles taught that their GOSPEL was the ONLY RIGHT GOSPEL and any other preaching was ACCURSED.

Galatians 1:8-12

(8) But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

(9) As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

(10) For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

(11) But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

(12) For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Simple final analysis. If the Gospel is the DEATH BURIAL AND RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ, that is what the Church should preach. (1 Corinthians 15 tells us it is).. therefore OBEYING that GOSPEL means Acts 2:38. So if anyone preaches ANOTHER gospel other than Acts 2:38 (even if it were an angel or one of the apostles coming from the dead) - it is accursed. What I am saying is that what is called "Church" outside of the Apostles teaching is in fact not God's Church at all. God's Church comes from His desire to call a PEOPLE OUT FOR HIS NAME sake. TO REBUILD THE TABERNACLE, to restore His People to the place that they should be. And I leave you with this:

Amos 9:11 is accomplished in Acts 2:38. The LORD said HE WOULD CALL HIS NAME upon the heathen. That is exactly what the Apostles did when they taught the people to be baptized in Jesus Name for the remisson of sins.

This is what indeed happened to me on April 2, 1997 I was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and God washed my sins away and filled me with the Holy Ghost. I didn't think it could be, until it happened to me.

Lord, please give light and revelation to the hearts that read this, for Acts 2:38 is your plan, not mine. Filling people with the Holy Ghost is what you do, not me. Washing sins from people and giving them a brand new life is what you do, not me. But LORD, I am available for you to use me, I love Your work and Your people, and I love to see you change lives. Use me LORD.

In Jesus Name.

Hebrews 11:6 - The 2 necessities of FAITH

There are actually 2 lessons taught in this verse

Hebrews 11:6
For without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he that comes to God MUST believe that HE IS and that HE IS A RE-WARDER OF THEM THAT DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM.

#1 - Believing that "HE IS".
This means that as the seeker of God we must absolutely be convinced that God IS. If you don't come to God with that already concluded and settled in your heart, then you have already lost the battle. The first past of the scripture tells us that without this FAITH it is IMPOSSIBLE to please Him. If we lose the understanding/revelation/trust that God is ABLE, this is where we must go back to before we can expect to have anything happen. I believe that is what James was speaking of when he said being tossed by the wind and driven. There is so many "seducing" spirits around us that would love to toss us around, and without the foundation of believing that God is ABLE, you will EASILY be tossed to and thro by these spirits. That is also why James told us:

James 1:6-8
(6) But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
(7) For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
(8) A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Believing that God IS ABLE. God IS THE ANSWER. God IS ALL THAT I NEED. God IS ALL POWERFUL is the foundation to having a move of God in your life. God CAN fix my situation, God CAN provide for my family, God CAN heal me of all my diseases, God CAN touch me and forgive me, God CAN make me whole. Without this foundation, prayer is empty, the scriptures are simply laws in a book, the whole premise of the spiritual walk with God seems insignificant and necessary. This is the spiritual condition of our world today and was spoken of by the prophet Malachi:

Malachi 3:14,15
(14) Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?
(15) And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.


If we ever reach the point that we say the above statements, we need to renew the first part of Hebrews 11:6, we need to remind ourselves and pray that God will remind us, HE IS. It IS NOT vain to serve God. It will profit if we keep His ordinance. It is wise to walk mournfully before the LORD of hosts. The PROUD are ONLY temporarliy happy, and they that work wickedness are on shaky ground. They that tempt God are NOT delivered, they are in bondage. The happiest people on this earth are those that walk for God. MANY are the AFFLICTIONS of the RIGHTEOUS, but the LORD DELIVER OUT OF THEM ALL!!!!

I believe this is the spirit of the Hebrew boys in Daniel. They believed that God IS, and that was already settled in their mind even when the king threatened to throw them in the furnace. They didn't have to make up their mind when the trial came, they already had their mind made up. It was worth it to be dedicated to God, and He was able to keep them through every trial. The Bible tells us that they didn't even HAVE TO THINK about the answer that they gave the King, they simply told him, OUR GOD IS ABLE TO DELIVER US. They had part 1 of Hebrews 11:6 down in their soul, they KNEW that God was able.

However, the next part is what should encourage us today. The next statement they made to the King was this:

If God chooses NOT to DELIVER us, let it be known to the KING that WE WILL NOT BOW DOWN. That is what the second part of the scripture means.

#2 - He is a REWARDER of them THAT DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM.
Those boys knew that they were right with God and that no matter what trial came into their life, God was going to reward them being FAITHFUL to Him. When we know that we are THE CALLED according to HIS purpose, that means that ALL THINGS work together to the good for us. That means even if God allows DEATH to come upon us, that means we will have accomplished our purpose for God. These boys understood that God was more powerful than the King and their allegiance to God made them ready to face even death, so even if the King put them in the fire, they were SURE that God would reward them even in DEATH. But here is where the beauty comes in, we know what happened, the boys didn't get burned, not a HAIR on their head was singed, and they did not even smell like smoke. And God went WITH them in that trial. I believe their faith showed DILIGENCE even in the face of DEATH, and God rewarded them BY BEING WITH THEM. Rather they died in that fire or God came to be with them in the fire, either way they were going to be with God and that my friend is what we should desire in our trial. God BE WITH ME, I want to feel you in this trial, I want to be comforted in this trial, I want to feel your LOVE in this trial, please don't let me be foolish and try to face it by myself. This is having faith in DILIGENTLY seeking Him. God is good and will always come through for us, but just as Jesus prayed for Peter, let us pray that our Faith doesn't fail. As long as you believe that He IS, and HE IS A REWARDER of them THAT DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM, you will find Him every time and in every trial you will realize that God is ALWAYS and will ALWAYS be in control of EVERYTHING.

Luke 22:31-32
(31) And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
(32) But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Jude tells us to PRAY in the HOLY GHOST, building up YOURSELVES in your most Holy Faith. Friend if you want to have a renewing in God, remember that He IS. Whatever we need HE IS. Whatever we lack HE IS. Whatever we have done in the past and failed Him - HE STILL IS. If you can praise Him, you have hope. If you can worship Him, you have hope. If you can just admit that without Him you are nothing, you have hope. Don't let your faith fail, the Lord Jesus Christ is ready to make intercession for us, He promised to never leave you and never forsake you. All you need to do is realize HE IS, and it is worth your time to seek Him, it is worth your time to invest in your relationship with Him. HE IS A REWARDER to them that DILIGENTLY seek Him.

Our God is great.. AND GREATLY to be PRAISED, lift up your eyes and behold the goodness and power of our Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The New Covenant

Ephesians 2:13
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Hebrews 13:12
Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

God purchased His Church with HIS own BLOOD. How did God get blood? The scripture teaches us that a Spirit hath not flesh and bones (Luke 24:39). In order to get the depth of understanding God obtaining blood we must go back to the Ark of the Covenant and understand how the Old Covenant paved the way for the coming of God in the FLESH.

In the Old Covenant, God dwelt between the Cherubims on top of the mercy seat, which was on top of the ark.

The Ark of the Testimony (aka Ark of The Covenant)

Exodus 25:22
And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.

Numbers 7:89
And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him.

2 Samuel 6:2
And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims.

1 Chronicles 13:6
And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kirjathjearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up thence the ark of God the LORD, that dwelleth between the cherubims, whose name is called on it.

Psalms 80:1
To the chief Musician upon Shoshannimeduth, A Psalm of Asaph. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.

Psalms 99:1
The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.

Isaiah 37:16
O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth.

Since God was dwelling in this Ark, all that was built around it as instructed by God to Moses on Mt Sinai was representative of the Spiritual Order of the New Covenant, in which was fulfilled by the manifesting of God in the FLESH of Jesus Christ and then by the born again obedience to His Gospel as preached by the Apostles (Acts 2:38) We must take special care to notice the Apostolic links that the New Testament writers accomplish through their ministry in writing the letters of the New Testament, and then it will be established how God has set up the New Covenant.

1 Peter 1:18-23
(18) Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
(19) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
(20) Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
(21) Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
(22) Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
(23) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

The lamb was provided to us by God, just as Abraham had experienced many years before, Jehovah-Jireh, God WILL PROVIDE Himself a sacrifice.

Ark of Covenant and Ark of Testimony
The Ark is interchangeably called Covenant AND Testimony.

Covenant - God's promise to man
Testimony - Man's record of God's promise.

What was in the Ark of the Covenant?

Hebrews 9:4
Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

1. pot of manna (God's Provision)
2. Aaron's Rod (God's Protection)
3. Law on tables (God's Instruction)

Notice that the testimony of the natural man (Israel) did not match the Covenant of God.

Man's testimony WITHOUT God
1. manna had worms (slothful in seeking God)
2. Rod had to bud (rebellion toward leadership)
3. tablets were broken (disobedience to the law)

In order for the Ark of the Testimony to match the Ark of the Covenant the BLOOD had to be sprinkled on the Ark. There was a process that this was to be accomplished.

Hebrews 9:18-26
(18) Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
(19) For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
(20) Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.
(21) Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
(22) And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
(23) It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
(24) For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
(25) Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
(26) For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Christ fulfilled the Old Covenant, now the Bible tells us that we have a BETTER Covenant built on BETTER promises. (Hebrews 8:6)

In the Old Covenant there was a fault. (Hebrews 8:7), the fault was that the sprinkling of the BLOOD on the mercy seat simply Atoned for the sins of Israel each year, but did not give REMISSION of sins. REMISSION of sins is what makes the Old Covenant have a fault.

Hebrews 9:13-14
(13) For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
(14) How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

God tabernacled Himself in flesh, He did this to have blood. He also did this out of desire to DWELL IN HIS PEOPLE. Jesus was the perfect example of a man filled with God, all the fulness of the Godhead was in HIM bodily. By allowing the suffering of the Son of God, the Spirit of God split the veil in the temple.

Hebrews 10:19-22
(19) Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
(20) By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
(21) And having an high priest over the house of God;
(22) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

So in order to establish entering this New Covenant, we cannot simply accept the traditional teachings of man that instruct us to simply have faith in God, misquoting the book of Romans 10. This teaching disavows the types and shadows presented to us through the Old Covenant. The priest did not just go into the Holy of Hollies haphazardly or irreverently, it was done according to the teachings that God gave Moses.

Exodus 30:18-21
(18) Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein.
(19) For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat:
(20) When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the LORD:
(21) So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.

So God instructed that they must not only burn the offering and take the blood from the offering (Brazen Altar) but the next step into the Holy Place was to WASH with WATER at the Laver. This is important to the New Covenant. The Gospel of Mark tells us:

Mark 16:16
(16) He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

As I stated earlier, the Apostolic link is established, and not by man, not by tradition, but by the apostles themselves. Compare Exodus 30:20 with Mark 16:16 and it is clear that the Old Testament Laver is a type and shadow of New Testament Water Baptism in Jesus Name.

All Christian groups want to claim that they have obtained favor with God and have the Blood of Jesus on their soul, but it is done in a haphazard, irreverent way either influenced by tradition, philosophy, and/or just a misunderstanding of the Word of God, but always leaves the seeker empty and unfulfilled, undelivered and unregenerated. This is why our society is so weak because people are being fed false gospels and half truths which in the end leave them disappointed and unsatisfied, so the world becomes too much to resist and they leave the life of sacrifice and love for God behind and get caught up in the pleasures of this life. Their TESTIMONY does not match God's COVENANT.

What is God's Covenant for us?

Hebrews 10:15-18
(15) Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
(16) This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
(17) And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
(18) Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.


The Covenant of God is that He will remit our sins and REMEMBER THEM NO MORE! He will put His LAWS into OUR HEARTS and in OUR MINDS. There WILL BE TOTAL REMISSION OF THE SINFUL DEEDS.

This is what we refer to as "Having the Victory" over SIN, over our FLESH, over the WORLD. And it is available to us if we obey the teaching of the Apostles. God had them sprinkle the BLOOD over the Ark to cover the broken law, the manna with worms, and the rod that budded as an example of His intention to tabernacle Himself in Jesus Christ, where when we go through Him, (John 14:6) we find the TRUTH and we are cleansed by the BLOOD. God's Blood makes us whole. Keep in mind that the BLOOD agrees in one with the other parts of the tabernacle. John tells us:

1 John 5:8
And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

And Jesus taught us:

John 3:4-5
(4) Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
(5) Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

This is the fulfillment of the Old Covenant, the BLOOD which brings REMISSION of SINS is only available through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Romans 10 is the wrong place to read to find this. Romans is a letter written to the Church, so people often misquote what Paul was writing to the Church to try to make it a "Salvation" plan. This is incorrect, if you go back to Romans 6, Paul states in verse 3, 4 "as many of ye that were baptized in Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism in death." This tells us the true story, that Paul was writing to people in Romans that had already been baptized, had already received the Holy Ghost, and had already been born again as written in John 3:5. Keep in mind that Romans was a LETTER written to the CHURCH, not intended for people that were not born again to read without the born again message, Romans is written to born again believers.

Therefore, we must rightly divide the word of Truth and find our way to the Acts of the Apostles, which tells us how to receive remission of sins. Acts 2:38 which was preached by Peter who had the keys to the kingdom tells us.
"Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ FOR THE REMISSION of SINS, and ye SHALL RECEIVE the GIFT of the HOLY GHOST."

As we continue, Phillip/Peter preaches this same message to the Samaritans (Acts 8)
Peter preaches the same message to the household of Cornelius (Acts 10)
Paul preaches the same message to the disciples at Ephesus (Acts 19)

This message is
Acts 2:38

Repentance (Brazen Altar)

Baptism in Jesus Name (Brazen Laver)

Receive the Holy Ghost (Holy Place/Holy of Hollies)


This is the ONLY Covenant that will create the TESTIMONY to match. You will get deliverance from SIN and receive the Holy Ghost when you repent and get baptized in Jesus Name, it is a promise from the Word of God. All other ways will lead to disappoint, emptiness, and wihtout satisfaction. We should desire to have a Testimony that matches the Covenant of God and this what the New Covenant is all about. A better Covenant built on BETTER Promises.

God-given Conviction

Padre Pio on Women's Dress
from Prophet of the People, by Dorothy M. Gaudiose, pp. 191-2

Women received especially rough treatment from Padre Pio because of current fashions. He had always been a merciless enemy of feminine vanity. "Vanity," he said, "is the son of pride, and is even more malignant than its mother. Have you ever seen a field of ripe corn? Some ears are tall; others are bent to the ground. Try taking the tallest, the proudest ones, and you will see that they are empty; but it you take the smallest, the humblest ones, they are laden with seeds. From this you can see that vanity is empty."

Padre Pio wouldn't tolerate low-necked dresses or short, tight skirts, and he forbade his spiritual daughters to wear transparent stockings. Each year his severity increased. He stubbornly dismissed them from his confessional, even before they set foot inside, if he judged them to be improperly dressed. On some mornings he drove away one after another, until he ended up hearing very few confessions.

His brothers observed these drastic purges with a certain uneasiness and decided to fasten a sign on the church door: "By Padre Pio's explicit wish, women must enter his confessional wearing skirts at least eight inches below the knees. It is forbidden to borrow longer dresses in church and to wear them for the confessional."

The last warning was not without effect. There was a furtive exchange of skirts, blouses, and raincoats, that took place at the last moment in the half-lit church to remedy any failings.

The women made their adjustments, but perhaps not exactly enough. Padre Pio continued to send some away before giving them a chance to confess. He would glower at them, and grumble, "Go and get dressed." And sometimes he added, "Clowns!" He spared no one... persons he saw for the first time, or his long-time spiritual daughters. Often the skirts were decidedly many inches below the knees, but not sufficiently long for his moral severity.

As the years began to weigh on Padre Pio, his daily hours in the confessional were limited to four, equally divided between men and women. In addition to being dressed properly, they had to know the Italian language, even though he could somehow understand people speaking another language. But he knew Italian, Latin, and very little French, consistently refusing to hear confessions except in Italian or Latin.

Sometimes when Padre Pio refused to absolve his penitents and closed the small confessional door in their faces, the people would reproach him asking why he acted this way. "Don't you know," he asked, "what pain it costs me to shut the door on anyone? The Lord has forced me to do so. I do not call anyone, nor do I refuse anyone either. There is Someone else Who calls and refuses them. I am His useless tool."

Even the men had rules to follow. They were not permitted to enter the church with three-quarter length sleeves. Boys as well as men had to wear long trousers at church, if they didn't want to be shown out of the church, that is. But women in short skirts were his prime targets. Padre Pio's citadel was perhaps the only place in the world where the fashions of the 1930s still ruled in the 1960s

This stirs me to think that we are responsible for holding this conviction in our generation, it is not a badge we wear because of the title Apostolic, it is God given revelation and it doesn’t take a title to obtain it, when the people of God get close to God, His standard becomes their standard. I remember how strict my grandparents used to be when I was a boy and to look at our family today I can see the distance from the conviction of God that they have traveled (even from the natural mind), and it makes me so thankful to have been called into the beloved brethren (Apostolic Church) that gave me the strength and lead me to developing God given convictions through obeying the Truth (Acts 2:38) and receiving the Holy Ghost and to give this to others. If we stay close to God and dedicated to prayer, we will have a FRESH revelation of God's conviction which will bring a real fire to the Church in our present day.

Willing and Obedient

Isaiah 1:16-20

(16) Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

(17) Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

(18) Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

(19) If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

(20) But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

The key to pleasing God is to operate both being willing AND being obedient.

I have seen folks that are willing but are not obedient.

I have seen folks that are not willing but are obedient.

They key to having the blessing of God and getting to eat the GOOD of the land is to operate both, I want to be on the edge of my seat during preaching, the most willing to praise God, excited with a smile to bring my tithes and offerings to the house of God, and shout the loudest Amen in the Church, but along with that willingness, I must obey God. This is where the promise comes to fruition, then I can be assured by the promise of God's Holy Word: I will eat the good of the land. But most of all, I will be pleasing Him, which should be the intent of the child of God above all else.