Truly I Tell You is an expression of truth that is emphasized. Jesus said this many times which was saying this truth will happen. In the NIV, Jesus says “truly I tell you” over seventy times. Now I am not going to talk about all those times but this week we are talking about when God says something, He means it and will do it. When Jesus uses this terminology, He is really emphasizing what He is saying, even though all words He spoke are true. For instance, our theme during this Lenten journey is about increasing our faith. When Jesus was talking about the faith of the centurion who was Roman, Jesus said, Matthew 8:10 “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” This centurion had great faith compared to what Jesus saw in Israel. He believed Jesus did not even have to come to his home to heal his servant who was paralyzed, he believed Jesus just had to say the word. Matthew 8:13 “Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.” Here you had a Roman soldier who believed more than the people of Israel believed. John 1:11 “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” Jesus went on to say, Matthew 8:11 “I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Thankfully the Gentiles were included. Isaiah 42:5 “This is what God the Lord says— the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: 6 “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, 7 to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.”
There are many verses in the bible that seem straightforward without any uncertainty. But as we talked about yesterday, many will not believe what the bible clearly states and will try to come up with an interpretation that removes the supernatural and make it more palatable and agreeable to their own distinct doctrines. So, when we read the verse about the centurion, most would have no problem with Jesus healing his servant and accept the passage as written. But with most passages that have to do with healing, they will say Jesus had the power and really do not believe anyone paralyzed today could be healed. Another part of the passage that is also not excepted for today is that his servant was healed instantly. So, although the verse is accepted as a story, it really isn’t believed. Jesus still could be saying truly I tell you I have not found such great faith in the church.
The verse I am talking about is one of those verses that when read should mean what it says, but instead most do not actually believe what it says. They even come up with differing interpretations because the verses as stated doesn’t fit with their doctrines of choice. In fact, as we have talked about, many will choose a doctrine of demons over the word of God. The verse I am referring to is found in John. John emphasizes this even more by adding very. John 14:12 “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” Jesus is really emphasizing this verse and it comes down to belief just like the centurion. Let’s ask and answer some questions. First of all, do you believe the signs, wonders, miracles, healings and casting demons were all done by Jesus? Most people will say yes as they are good with reading the stories about Jesus. Matthew 4:23 “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them.” They say, He was Jesus, Son of God, so of course He could do all those amazing things. Next question is do you believe the disciples could do all those things? Yes, most also enjoy the stories about the disciples hanging out with Jesus, so of course they could heal the sick and cast out demons. Matthew 10:1 “Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy.” Acts 5:12 “The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.” The disciples did as Jesus did.
Next, do you believe there were others who also could do as Jesus did. A couple of other examples were Stephen and Philip. To overlook the daily food distribution, they chose Acts 6:3 “seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. 8 Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.” Acts 8:5 “Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.” Notice the paralyzed were healed. It wasn’t just the Apostles who did signs and wonders. Acts 19:11 “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.”
Now this is the part were most in the church veer away from scripture to follow the doctrines of men and demons, their own reasoning, their own experiences and their own traditions. The answer most will give to this next question gives us the misunderstanding about John 14 that many have. The question is, do you believe that the church was to continue in that same power and authority that Jesus had and the authority and power He gave to His disciples? Most do not. The Pentecostals / charismatics will say of course but in reality, the power and authority that we see in the Gospels and Acts is not happening in the charismatic churches as there is a lot of deception and delusion taking place. Yes, the Pentecostals are right in believing that the power was never supposed to stop. The problem is they did not test the spirits and ended up with a lot of chaos. Pentecost would be the start of the church that went out in power and authority to proclaim the good news, heal the sick and cast out demons. Jesus said John 7:38 “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.” Pentecost was supposed to be the start of power of the church for all who would believe. The disciples were told, Luke 24:49 “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Mark 16:17 “And these signs will accompany those who believe.” Keep that in mind. Paul prayed and said Ephesians 1:18 “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”
But as we saw the other day, when Paul was talking to the Galatians, he said Galatians 1:6 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!” And then he said Galatians 3:1 “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? 4 Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? 5 So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?” And then he said, 2 Corinthians 11:4 “For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.” The church decided to finish by means of the flesh, accept other gospels, follow a different Jesus and has accepted the powerless church as normal Christianity even though that is not at all what the bible states.
Even though the charismatics were right to believe that power is available, because the charismatics did not test the spirits, satan has had a heyday of deception and God has brought delusion on the church (non-charismatics included) for rebellion. They thought that people falling down and laying on their backs, gibberish (so-called) spewing from their mouths, words of knowledge and prophesies that did not line up with scripture, drunkenness, laughing like a hyena, running around, fairy dust, gold fillings and a whole lot of other nonsense was God in their midst. But it wasn’t God, it was satan. satan has also had a heyday in non-charismatic churches as he did not even have to perform signs and wonders because they had already been deceived, thinking that God no longer did miracles, signs and wonders. Because they did not test the spirits, false prophets are everywhere. 2 Corinthians 11:3 “For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” Mark 13:22 “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” Some in the church think that all signs and wonders are of the devil, yet we are told Jesus said Mark 16:16 “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” Hebrews 2:4 “God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.” The disciples prayed Acts 4:29 “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus. 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” The charismatics don’t seem to know enough to test the spirits and the non-charismatics don’t seem to know that there are spirits to be tested.
Today we have a powerless church, meanwhile all who believe say they are filled with the Holy Spirit, yet there is no power. As Jesus said in John, “By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.” When you receive the Holy Spirit, that means God is dwelling in you. 1 Corinthians 3:16 “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” Ephesians 2:22 “And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. It also means you have repented, and the kingdom of God has come near. When the kingdom comes near, power is available to you to be used as the Holy Spirit distributes them. 1 Corinthians 12:4 “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.”
Charismatic or non-charismatic, the church is powerless as described in scripture, because God has turned His face away. As we see throughout scripture, when God turns away, enemies defeat His people. Ezekiel 39:23 “And the nations will know that the people of Israel went into exile for their sin, because they were unfaithful to me. So I hid my face from them and handed them over to their enemies, and they all fell by the sword. 24 I dealt with them according to their uncleanness and their offenses, and I hid my face from them.” Because the church has rebelled, the church became powerless and the enemy prevailed. People will say but Jesus said, Mark 16:18 “on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” But He also said we were to teach people to obey. Matthew 28:18 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Because the church, rebelled and did not obey, that all changed and the abomination that causes desolation that we were warned about decimated the church. What you see as the church today is not the church Jesus empowered. The church instead of acknowledging the powerlessness, continued operating in the flesh and refused to repent. The church accepted and taught that all is well and this lack of power is how it is supposed to be but that is not what Jesus taught us.
Many churches believe in a doctrine of demons called cessationism. This simply means God does not do what you read in scripture anymore as they falsely say the power stopped with the apostle Paul. There are others who will not say they are cessationists but have accepted God’s power not being available. So, everything you read was just for then and just to start the church and everyone since would not have power to heal the sick or cast out demons. It is about as stupid as the Big Bang theory we talked about briefly yesterday. That is like giving someone a high-powered car and saying sorry there is no fuel, but we can give you a push around the track. Jesus came and showed us what we were supposed to do. 1 John 3:8 “The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” Revelation 11:15 “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.” Revelation 12:10 “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. 11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb.” Jesus triumphed but right away He empowered His disciples to go and do the same. Jesus showed us what the church would look like and then empowered the church to do as He did; destroy the work of the devil. You can only do that if you are anointed from on High, meaning God must be dwelling among us. So, when a little child or anyone asks Jesus to come into their heart, it really means that, but we must obey His word. John 14:23 “Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” When that happens the power of God flows out from us and the work of satan is destroyed, just as when Jesus healed the lady who was bent over. Luke 13:11 “A woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” 13 Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.” Of course there was opposition, just as there is today but Jesus responded and said 15 “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? 16 Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?” Your first thought should be, I see people like that and that freedom should still be happening today, as there are many people bound by satan who are not being freed. Also take note of the word immediately. But most have settled for powerless Christianity, which really isn’t Christian but just a religion of the world. Paul was told, Acts 26:17 “I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’” The church was to continue doing that. The Jews rejected that power. Acts 13:45 “When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. 47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.” Now the Gentiles have also rejected eternal life by rebelling against God’s word.
What most people know of the church is powerlessness and they consider that to be normal, so with a verse like John 14:12-14, they interpret it from a powerless perspective as that is what their doctrines, experience, reason and tradition is telling them. They are also deceived by doctrines of demons. The same happened with the charismatic. They assume that being filled with the Holy Spirit is represented by the babble that comes out of their mouths, although that babble is not the tongues spoken in Acts. Yes, speaking in tongues was a sign but it had to be real tongues not babble as seen in the charismatic churches. Again that is how satan deceives. Here is the verse again John 14:12 “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” I looked up a few interpretations and saw a downplay of the power so that the verse would line up with their doctrines. I looked at three. The first one is a quasi continuationist, the next one is a hardcore cessationist, and the other a hardcore continuationist. The first one I looked at was John Piper (2012) and the article started with a view of the works of Jesus that most have. The verse is quoted and then you are told about land that has been purchased to build another building so that the work of Jesus can continue. Remember Jesus came to destroy the work of the devil not to build buildings. That means not only preaching the good news but healing the sick and casting out demons. He then calls it normal Christianity. He then right away cast doubt as to whether normal Christianity today includes the miracles of Jesus even though he says he does believe in them and does not say they have ceased. But the question is, is there the same power Jesus had. It would be fair to say they are not happening due to other doctrines they believe. He then draws on experience to say have you ever seen such miracles. Now obviously I gave a very brief description of what he said but at no time did he lead people to repent and turn from wicked ways so that we could do as Jesus did. Nor did he suggest those miracles would even be possible for today. Basically, his conclusion was the church as we know it was doing okay according to his Baptist, Calvinist doctrines.
John MacArthur, a hard core cessationist believes the works was about salvation. He said, “Jesus was indicating that the disciples works would be greater not in power, but in extent. The impact of their preaching exceeded even the impact of Jesus’ public teaching ministry during His lifetime. Jesus never preached outside a 175-mile radius extending from His birthplace. Within His lifetime, Europe never received word of the gospel. But under the ministry of the disciples the good news began to spread, and it’s still spreading today. Their works were greater than His, not in power, but in scope. After all, the greatest miracle God can perform is salvation.” I found it interesting that the writer of this blog on “Grace To You” (John MacArthur) actually looked at the church over all these generations and justified their lack of belief in God’s word. This could also be a description of the result of rebellion. The writer said, “The testimony of church history suggests it was not, as many generations of saints have come and gone without any evidence of apostolic power. And while charismatics will argue that there is evidence of miracles today, it’s always anecdotal, rarely documented or objectively substantiated, and often comes from the far-flung corners of the globe. Even by that flawed standard, the Spirit’s supposed miraculous work today is significantly different than His ministry through the apostles in the first-century church. Far from healing the crippled, curing the ravages of disease, and raising the dead, it seems the focus of the Holy Spirit’s healing ministry today is limited to rheumatoid arthritis, nagging back pain, and other subjective ailments. No longer is His work dramatic, obvious, and undeniable—today it’s mysterious, indiscriminate, and surprisingly absent when and where it’s most needed.” I have to say that is bizarre. Now I realize the writer is mocking the charismatics and in the same blog they quoted a few charismatics of whom they disagree with but to say what they said, “no longer is His work dramatic, obvious, and undeniable—today it’s mysterious, indiscriminate, and surprisingly absent when and where it’s most needed.” is to admit how pathetic their belief really is. Another writer explained that “The reason the apostles were given these miraculous gifts was to authenticate them as authorized representatives of Christ who received and proclaimed divine revelation to the early church. Furthermore, there is scant evidence that His promise of power extends to the subsequent generations of the church. In other words, we have not seen the charismatic interpretation validated by nearly 19 centuries of Christian history.” Many also have fallen for that reasoning. It doesn’t matter what the church history looks like, what does the bible say. In the case of the church, history shows the results of rebellion. You should look at church history and repent. Paul about Israel’s history, 1 Corinthians 10:6 “Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” Just look around at all the people desperately needing healing and demons cast out, yet most in the church have settled for powerlessness. When Covid 19 struck globally the powerless church was exposed but the church pushed through and remained powerless.
Now, Charismatics believe what the verse states, except they failed to test the spirits. In the above article they referenced Bill Johnson of Bethel Redding California, an ultra-charismatic church. He is a hardcore continuationist. He said, “The miraculous is a large part of the plan of God for this world. And it is to come through the Church.” That is true but they do not test the spirits and have been deceived. They are the ones that have the glory clouds (gold dust) suggesting the presence of God. In 2 Chronicles 5 we see that the temple was filled with a cloud – not the same cloud. They are also involved in a lot of craziness they call the presence of the Holy Spirit, but it is not the Holy Spirit that is present but satan. They have the school of supernatural ministry, that had to close during covid. Bill Johnson came out of the Toronto Blessing revival which was a false revival and if you look at anything Bethel is doing you would see that God is not present, yet they believe John 14:12 as they should but they did not test the spirits. If they tested, they would repent and turn away from everything they are involved in. The Toronto Blessing, Brownsville revivals were false and not of God. What you saw was not what Jesus was doing but satan masquerading as an angel of light and many are still influenced by this move of satan, even though Jesus said Matthew 24:23 “At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time.” It has already been that time!
Now this is not a theological discussion trying to prove one side or the other because the internet is filled with that. Cessationism is a doctrine of demons for sure but the continuationists were deceived and are not seeing the power of God they claim to believe. What was missing from the discussion is repentance and turning back to God. Most of the arguments are between the churches with differing doctrines. Some will say see there have been no miracles over all these years and then say look at the charismatics, that is not God. Then the other side will say miracles are part of normal Christianity and point to the dead churches but then proceed to do abnormal things not even found in scripture. There is enough truth to get people to believe on either side, that is how satan works. For example, all through scripture we see people falling on their faces in worship of God but then the charismatics literally fell for satan’s deceptions and fell backwards on their backs like an animal in sexual submission. That was often very dramatic with someone blowing or waving the hands towards them, lining them up like dominoes and they would fall down. You will also see people behaving erratically, laughing like hyenas, drunk, muttering like someone possessed, supposedly in the spirit. That is not God. The amazing part is that on both sides there really are no miracles to speak of. Yet, not only is the world filled with sickness and diseases, but the church is also filled with sickness and disease and most remain that way. Yes, there are some examples of healing but there are just as many examples of people being healed outside the church.
The church looks nothing like Jesus nor is the church doing as He did. The church needs to stop looking at the two-thousand years that have gone by or the charismatics and keep our eyes focused on Jesus and then repent and turn from our wicked ways. When you read the Gospels and Acts, there is no way you come away from reading and say, the church is exactly how it should be, yet people believe the lies of satan over God’s word. When Jesus preached, people were healed instantly, and demons cast out. There was nothing that couldn’t be healed, or demon cast out and it was immediate. The disciples went and did the same. That was supposed to continue but the church turned away almost immediately and depended on human strength and not on the power of God. This rebellion meant that God turned His face from the church. We were warned over and over again, but the church did not listen and like Israel and Judah, the church has been defeated by our enemies. Rebellion led to the first and second temples being destroyed. Not only were the temples destroyed, Jesus would also describe the church being destroyed. Matthew 24:1 “Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2 “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” Then someone asked “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus answered, “Watch out that no one deceives you.” Savage wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing happened right away and other gospels replaced the truth and has been happening ever since. Jesus then describes the abomination that causes desolation just as Daniel described and then said Matthew 24:22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.”
Instead of leading people back to the word of God, they are leading people away from the truth by distorting the word of God and bring it into disrepute. Millions of people have been led astray by false doctrines. 2 Peter 2:1 “There were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.” They teach them their own doctrines, not the sound doctrine of the word of God. The non-charismatics have accepted the powerless church and the charismatics have accepted the power from satan and both remain deceived and deluded. Paul said 2 Thessalonians 2:3 “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” The only way to defeat satan is with power and authority that comes with God dwelling in us. The church as we know it is being defeated by satan and people are dying by the millions because they are following a different Jesus, other gospels and doctrines of demons.
King Solomon built an amazing temple. David gave him the plans as given to Him by the Spirit. 1 Chronicles 28:12 “He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit had put in his mind for the courts of the temple of the Lord and all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the temple of God and for the treasuries for the dedicated things.” You can read about the building of the temple - 2 Chronicles 3. When he finished Solomon said, 2 Chronicles 6:2 “I have built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever.” 2 Chronicles 7:1 “When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. 5 And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand head of cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats.” But as we know that temple would be destroyed because Solomon and the people would rebel against God. They would be taken captive but as prophesied by Jeremiah they would return and rebuild the temple. 2 Chronicles 36:23 “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: “‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up, and may the Lord their God be with them.’”
Keep in mind the first temple was incredible but now as promised they were building the second temple, but it wasn’t going to be like the first. Ezra 3:10 “When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their places to praise the Lord, as prescribed by David king of Israel. 11 With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: “He is good; his love toward Israel endures forever.” And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. 12 But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. 13 No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away.” The older people understood what they had lost because of their rebellion and this one was nowhere near the magnificence of the first temple built by Solomon. But then God said something amazing that showed it wasn’t about the building. Then the Lord spoke through the prophet Haggai. Haggai 2:2 “Ask them, 3 ‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? 4 But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. 5 ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’ 9 ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”
It really wasn’t about the building itself but God’s presence. They were told Haggai 2:15 “‘Now give careful thought to this from this day on—consider how things were before one stone was laid on another in the Lord’s temple.” The temple as a structure was diminishing but the glory of God was increasing to the point that God would no longer dwell in something manmade. Acts 17:24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands.” The second temple would also be destroyed, and the third temple was in the process of being built, except this temple was not made of brick and mortar. Ephesians 2:19 “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” When Jesus came, not only did God dwell among us, but He also walked among us. Jesus then showed us what the glory of God filling His temple looked like. He then empowered His disciples to do the same and the church was to continue doing as Jesus did. The glory would even be greater. God said to Moses Exodus 34:10 “I am making a covenant with you. Before all your people I will do wonders never before done in any nation in all the world. The people you live among will see how awesome is the work that I, the Lord, will do for you. 11 Obey what I command you today. I will drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 12 Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare among you. 13 Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles. 14 Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” As we saw with the Jews, again they did not obey and turned away from the word of the Lord and the temple was destroyed because God is a jealous God.
The new temple was to be amazing, even greater than the two before it. The New Covenant was in effect and the church was about to be born. Everything that Jesus did and everything he empowered His disciples to do would be available to the church after Pentecost, and the church would go to the ends of the earth in power. And we saw that begin to happen. After Jesus rose from the dead, He said to his disciples, Acts 1:8 “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Previously Acts 1:4 “On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” They then obeyed and there were about 120 in the upper room. 2 Chronicles 7:1 “When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.” At the second temple Zechariah 4:6 “So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” Haggai 2:20 “The word of the Lord came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: 21 “Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. 22 I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother. 23 “‘On that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” Then at Pentecost fire came down again and the Spirit of God filled the disciples. Acts 2:1 “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”
Jesus was called to the people of Israel. Matthew 15:24 “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” He did heal others, but his purpose was Israel. At Pentecost the word would go out to the nations by His church and they would do as He did. Acts 2:5 “Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.” That is what tongues really means and it should still be happening today as there are many language barriers. At Pentecost, those who obeyed and waited became different people. The bible does not give all the accounts of every disciple but there was 120 plus those who accepted Peter’s message. Acts 2:41 “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” Acts was mostly about Peter and then Paul. Acts 5:12 “The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people,” but then goes on to say 15 “As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.” There were five other men chosen along with Stephen and Philip of whom the apostles laid their hands on, but we see the stories of Stephen and Philip. There were 120 in the upper room who were filled with the Holy Spirit. Now picture an army of people filled with the Holy Spirit doing as Jesus did preaching the good news, healing the sick, casting out demons and the church grew powerfully from there, that is until the church turned away and decided they did not need God’s power among them.
John tells us we are to do as Jesus did, but since most believe He was God, of course Jesus could do all those things and yes Jesus was God. But Jesus also was a man. John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Paul said Philippians 2:5 “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” Jesus was hungry, weak when carrying the cross, angry in the temple, thirsty, He could bleed, tired, tempted but did not succumb to temptation, and He needed to be filled with the Holy Spirit which is the key. John 1:32 “Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.” John baptized Jesus. Matthew 3:16 “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Then Matthew 4:1 “Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.” There was no sense going to the desert if Jesus could not be tempted. After the temptation, Jesus began His ministry. Matthew 4:17 “From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Then Matthew 4:23 “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them.” John told us Matthew 3:11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
When the power of God was upon a person, and His Spirit was upon them, they could do amazing supernatural things. I can’t believe the church has settled for only what man can accomplish. The bible is filled with miracles, signs and wonders all done by humans, empowered by the Spirit of God. James 5:16 “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.” The list of signs and wonders Elijah and Elisha performed is extensive. 2 Kings 2:8 “Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.” Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. After Elijah was taken up into heaven, Elisha took the cloak that was left behind and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 “He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over. 15 The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” Moses parted the Red Sea and Joshua also crossed the Jordon on dry ground because water piled up in a heap. The dead were raised and even after Elisha died. We talked about the apostle Paul being ill and here we see Elisha was ill and like the foolish theologian today who would come to the conclusion the power ceased because he was ill but there was still power even after he died. 2 Kings 13:14 “Now Elisha had been suffering from the illness from which he died. 20 Elisha died and was buried. Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. 21 Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet.” I always pictured the dead person who came to life passing those who threw him into the tomb as they all ran. And yes, there will be those who think he was not dead but unconscious just like they think the others who were raised from the dead were just sleeping. People were not stupid, dead was dead. After Jesus died something similar happened. Matthew 27:50 “And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.” That is the power that is available to the church.
Then in the New Testament, the miracles, signs and wonders continued. The disciples did as Jesus did. They healed the sick, cast out demons, walked on water, raised the dead, like Elijah were transported from one location to another. 1 Kings 18:12 “I (Obadiah) don’t know where the Spirit of the Lord may carry you when I leave you. (Philip – Acts 8:39 “the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.”) Ask yourself if you believe that and do you believe it is still possible? According to scripture your answer should be yes. Jesus said when John sent his disciples to ask if he really was the Messiah, Matthew 11:4 “Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” Many have stumbled because they refuse to believe. Jesus sent out the twelve with authority and power to do as He did, preach the good news, heal the sick and cast out demons. He then sent out the seventy-two to Luke 10:9 “heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’” They reported back and said, Luke 10:17 “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” Notice the seventy-two reported back but did not describe anything that happened other than demons submitting. The apostle Paul was given great power. Acts 19:11 “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.” Everything he did was not written down. Here is what one Baptist minister said “After the death of the Apostles, the spiritual gift of miracles ceased (cessationism = unbelief). Let me be clear. God can do miracles. He does them regularly! He has no less power than He had on the day He declared, “Let there be...” But God has not given this preacher or that teacher the same miracle-working authority as He gave to Peter and Paul.” The question needs to be asked why not? Why were you were not given the same power, the answer is simple because the answer he just gave that they ceased is a doctrine of demons and not found in scripture. So, unbelief is the answer. As we see in Galatians there were miracles, they just were not written down. Just like Philips Acts 21:9 “four unmarried daughters who prophesied.” What did they prophesy about? They were many disciples sent out, but their stories are not told just as Jesus did more than was written in the bible. John 21:25 “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” Can you imagine how big the bible would be if every miracle, sign and wonder was written down?
The above quote from the Baptist minister is what many in the church believe today. They don’t believe it is possible for men and women to do as Jesus did or the disciples or those in the Old Testament. They have no problem saying that if God so desires, He will heal, but there is not usually much talk about casting out demons. What we have seen over the years is very little healing. As we have seen, people outside the church become cancer free or cured from other sicknesses. Sickness and disease are not only rampant in this world but also in the church and no, God doesn’t really heal people that much. If it wasn’t for all the medication people were taking in the church, a lot more would be dead. The plan of God was to fill us with His Spirit and empower us to do as Jesus did, just as he did with the disciples and continue in destroying the devil’s work. The church at Pentecost was filled with power from on High, just as Jesus said it would. Luke 24:49 “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” That was the plan; God would dwell among us, and the kingdom would come near and the church with power and authority would do as Jesus did. But since the church rejected His word as the Baptist minister did and those like him have done, the church doesn’t have the power and authority we were supposed to have. When you take away the power the bible reads like something that has been redacted – “edited especially in order to obscure or remove sensitive information.” That would be satan by the way. These next verses would be blank just as the church today is powerless. God has turned His face from the church, so these verses are not happening. There would be no knowledge, wisdom, faith, healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, discernment, tongues as in Acts. Here is the verse in question as stated and the verse that all parts should be believed. 1 Corinthians 12:7 “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.” Those like the Baptist minister take out the power parts like healing, miraculous powers and keep the rest, but what kind of knowledge do they have when they do this. If they had the gift of distinguishing between spirits, they would not have been deceived. They have accepted a doctrine of demons (Cessationism) instead of believing the word of God because God’s word does not line up with their beliefs. 1 Timothy 1:7 “They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.”
James said James 5:16 “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are.” James also shows us what should be happening in the church. James 5:14 “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.” That is not happening. That mean prayers are not being heard. Isaiah 1:5 “When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood!” Prayer is supposed to be our connection with God and when we are faithful to His word, He hears us. Psalm 6:9 “The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer.” Jeremiah said that after the people were freed from Babylon, Jeremiah 29:12 “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.” Solomon was told 2 Chronicles 7:14 “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. 16 I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there. 19 “But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, 20 then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. 21 This temple will become a heap of rubble. All who pass by will be appalled and say, ‘Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ 22 People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why he brought all this disaster on them.’” The church rebelled and is now desolate.
The disciples were supposed to use the power Jesus gave them, but they always didn’t understand, that is before Pentecost. There was a large crowd and Jesus Matthew 14:14 “had compassion on them and healed their sick.” The disciples wanted to send them away, but Jesus said, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.” This shows that they were supposed to do as Jesus did. The disciples did not understand the power that Jesus had given them. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.” The next time they still did not get it. Matthew 15:30 “Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. 31 The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.” By the way this is what the church should be doing, not entertaining people for an hour on Sunday. Again, the disciples did not understand the power that was available to them and said ““Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd? 38 The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children.”
A man brought his son to Jesus and said, Matthew 17:15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.” Jesus’ response was frustration. He said, 17 “You unbelieving and perverse generation, how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me. 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.” 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Mark tells us Mark 9:21 “Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” 23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” 28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.” The church needs to be able to pray this way.
At this point the disciples still really did not understand the power and authority that was available to them. This power was the same power that raised Jesus from the dead as Paul said. This really all comes down to faith and belief. Instead of the church spending so much time discussing why this verse doesn’t mean what it says, why not repent and expect more from God. What person in their right mind would not want people to be healed and demons cast out? The church as we know it is pathetic. Think about it; a weekly gathering of people who need to be fed and that is about it. There is lots of talk but no power as Paul said, 1 Corinthians 4:20 “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” There is no power even though the world around us and the church itself is desperate for the power of God to be in our midst. Ask any sick person the doctors can’t help. We were offered power, but the church rejected that offer and God turned away and left the church powerless, deceived and deluded. When you search out the meaning of this verse, there are the cessationist and continuationists, but neither are seeing the true power and authority the church should have. A person like John MacArthur a hardcore cessationist is just as much a false prophet as Bill Johnson a hardcore continuationist but neither are seeing the true power and authority Jesus intended for the church to have. Jesus said John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” Jesus then said, 15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth.” 6 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” Keeping the commands of God is key to having the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Many in the church say they do have the holy Spirit but there is no power and this is why. Jesus then said John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” You cannot go your own way and expect God’s blessing. Jesus then said another very truly I tell you. John 16:7 “But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. 12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” Rebellion means that truth has been thrown down which is why there are so many differing opinions. If the Holy Spirit was truly present as all the different churches believe, there would only be Ephesians 4:4 “One body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” But that is not happening, and this is why. Daniel 8:12 “Because of rebellion, the Lord’s people and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.” Isaiah 59:15 “Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.” Because of rebellion God has allowed our enemies to defeat the church. Daniel 7:21 “As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.” The church has been decimated and must repent and turn from its wicked ways, and God will turn His face back to us and yes this will take place. John 14:11 “Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” Do you believe?
We see that in two places in these passages we are told ask for whatever you want but we also see that we must obey by remaining in Him. Asking God for a Lamborghini is not to the glory of God but to yourselves, although I have seen pastors who think it is. When we ask, it will be for God’s glory only. Jesus came to save the world. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” We are also told 1 John 3:8 “The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” Jesus was sent to Israel and then the church would continue his work. Picture the twelve going out and then picture the seventy-two going out and so on and so on. Picture the church not rebelling and still having the power and authority to defeat satan. If that was the case, we wouldn’t be having this conversation two thousand years later. This would have sped up the coming of Jesus to take us to eternity. 2 Peter 3:11 “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.” The sick would continue to be healed, demons would be cast out and incredible signs and wonders would still be happening as needed to spread the true gospel. Picture the church all around the world doing as Jesus did and all preaching the same gospel. The gospel is not just words but power. Matthew 9:35 “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.” If the church was preaching the truth, healing would take place just as Jesus healed and demons would be cast out and the words instantly healed would be included. Jesus would confirm His word with signs. There are lots of people bound by satan. If we would return to God’s word, then the words Jesus spoke to Peter would again be in effect. Matthew 16:18 “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” And no Peter is not the rock but his confession is. To say the greatest miracle is salvation while people still suffer from infirmities and disease, is a lie. Why? Because Jesus rose from the dead and He still Matthew 8:17 “(takes) up our infirmities and (bears) our diseases.” Previous to this verse, 16 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah.”
Pentecost was to be ongoing. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit on that day, and it was not a one-time event but the beginning. Right after we see the disciples pray. Acts 4:29 “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus. 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” As the word went out people were continuedly filled. After Philip, Acts 8:14 “When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” Acts 10:44 “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.” Paul said to a group Acts 19:2 “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. 4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.”
This anointing of the Holy Spirit was to continue as was the power to heal and cast out demons. Most in the church say they are filled with the Holy Spirit, but since there is no power that cannot be the case. Instead, most have been deluded and deceived into thinking they are filled with the Spirit and the church as we know it is the church Jesus is the head of. Sadly, the church has been decimated by the abomination that causes desolation but there is hope. Ezekiel 33:11 “‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’” Mark 1:14 “Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Proverbs 8:17 “I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.” Jesus said John 14:15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth.” Then in obedience, once again the church will do as Jesus did. Matthew 9:35 “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Isaiah said Isaiah 6:8 “Here am I. Send me!”
