Easter is a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus around 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.” Peter said Acts 2:32 “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.” Acts 10:39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” Easter is also the last day of our Lenten journey but hopefully this journey has increased your faith and desire to see the power of God return to the fallen church. It is hard to believe how fast those 46 days went by.
Great effort and preparation are put into Easter Sundays and many who do not attend regularly, will go to church on Easter Sunday. Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox (different date), all celebrate Easter. Some will even act out the passion of Christ while others turn this world changing event into movies and shows. Don’t get too caught up in Hollywood’s passion for Christ, keep your focus on God’s word. Take a show like The Chosen. On the surface what could be wrong with taking the bible and showing it on the screen. But that is not what happens, as it appears the bible needs help to make it more entertaining. You also need to take a closer look behind the show itself and who is involved in its production. This is called testing the spirits. 1 John 4:1 “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” First of all be careful because Dallas Jenkins’ (the creator of The Chosen) father is “Jerry B. Jenkins, a Christian novelist best known for the Left Behind series (end times / rapture), one of the highest-selling book series of all time, selling over 60 million copies.” Think about that for a moment, 60 million copies and who knows how many have read those copies on top of the 60 million. Someone would say, here, read this book, it is fantastic and so on and so on. The problem is the rapture (Christians disappear) as portrayed in the book Left Behind, is a doctrine of demons, thus, he is a false prophet / teacher, those of whom Jesus warned us about. He is also involved with The Chosen. “Earlier this year, the coauthor of the famous Left Behind series released the second book of his novelization of the popular Christian television show “The Chosen,” titled The Chosen: Come and See. The book is a novelization of the second season of “The Chosen,” a series in which Jenkins’ son, Dallas Jenkins, serves as director and co-writer. Jenkins had previously novelized season one. In an interview with The Christian Post on Wednesday, Jenkins explained that he hoped that viewers of the TV series would inspire people who are not religious to come to Christ.” False prophets do not lead people to Christ! If there is a disconnect between their (son and father) beliefs, I didn’t see it. One person made this response about the show; “The way you have developed the personal backstories for each of the characters has been fascinating and feels so authentic. What is your process for fleshing those out? Jenkins: We start with what we know from Scripture, and what each character’s big “moment” is in Scripture, and then we work our way backwards. We want those moments to be as impactful as possible, and we want the characters to be as human and authentic as possible, so we create these backstories accordingly.” This is dangerous as people will equate these backstories as truth, not fiction. One person said, “It makes me want to read my Bible and think, “Could it have happened this way?” And often I conclude that, “Yes, it may not have happened that way, but it could have! It then makes me think outside the box and enriches my understanding and interpretation of scripture.” No, it does not! He also has a Rabbi, (“Season 4 deals with the events leading up to the arrest of Jesus, which ultimately leads to his crucifixion. Jenkins knew he was navigating into dangerous waters, with subject matter that has long been the basis for antisemitic tropes and stereotypes. That’s why The Chosen’s creators developed a Jewish Advisory Board, to help them treat the events leading up to Jesus’ arrest and trial with careful consideration. The goal isn’t simply to avoid ugly historical hatreds, however. Jenkins also hopes to increase his fellow Christians’ appreciation of Judaism.)” Catholic Priest and evangelical as his sounding board. That does not instill confidence because the Jews killed Jesus their Messiah and still do not believe He was the Messiah, the Catholics are far from truth and evangelical does not mean follower of the gospel. You can also see Dallas Jenkins confusion as there is also an underlying Mormon connection. Dallas Jenkins himself, “went on to address the rumors by those who have accused him of claiming that Mormons, or Latter-Day Saints (LDS), are Christians too. He said, "It would be just as dumb for me to say that all LDS are Christians as it would be to say that all Evangelicals are Christians or that all Catholics are Christians or any other faith tradition," he continued. "It would also be dumb of me to say that none are! (yes, it would) That's also a level of arrogance that I don't possess." "When I've talked about my brothers and sisters in Christ, and when I talked about those LDS folks that I know who loved the same Jesus I do, I'm referring to some of the friends that I have who identify as LDS who I've gotten to know very deeply over the last few years, in particular. And I've had hundreds of hours of conversations with (them), and I stand by the statement that those friends of mine that I'm referring to absolutely love the same Jesus that I do." He is not arrogant, his is ignorant! You cannot be an LDS and a follower of Christ. The truth is they do follow the same jesus, just not the true Jesus. 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.” It doesn’t matter how much you love the show, you have to look at what is going on behind the scenes.
The answer to all this is to read your bible. Know your bible - know the truth; no bible - no truth. Jesus gave us this warning about the end times, Matthew 24:3 “Tell us, they said, when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age? 4 Jesus answered: Watch out that no one deceives you.” Yet millions have been deceived. 1 John 3:7 “Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 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.” The devil did not disappear at the cross and the power of the devil is still present. This is why the church was given this same power to continue in the work Jesus started. After Pentecost we see that work continue. Acts 5:16 “Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.” When Philip proclaimed the Messiah, Acts 8:7 “with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. Jesus told Paul, 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.” The question you should be asking is; does no one today need healing? The answer is obviously yes as people are desperate to be healed! satan’s power is still present and even more so now because the church rebelled against the word of God. 2 Thessalonians 2:4 “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.” 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.” After Jesus talked about the abomination that causes desolation, He 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. 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.” We were warned.
The church did not listen and turned to other gospels and a different Jesus. Since the church refused to listen, God turned His face from the church and the church experienced a severe famine with detrimental effects. Amos 8:11 “The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine through the land— not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.” This severe famine began even before Paul had died. Paul 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!” At this point there is only a remnant left who have survived, due only to the grace of God and His promise to David and Abraham.” Paul would also say to Titus, Titus 1:10 “For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group. 11 They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain.” 1 Timothy 1:6 “Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. 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.” Peter said 2 Peter 2:1 “But 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.” This is all part of the abomination that causes desolation. satan has decimated the church and now the church is desolate just like Israel and Judah. They were told Leviticus 26:43 “For the land will be deserted by them and will enjoy its sabbaths while it lies desolate without them. They will pay for their sins because they rejected my laws and abhorred my decrees.”
Just like Israel and Judah were powerless against their enemies who were flesh and blood, the church is powerless against our enemies who are not flesh and blood. Ephesians 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” We were given the power to go to war and be victorious. Jesus did not give His life and rise from the dead so the church could lose the battle with satan. 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.” This was the power the church was to have. Since the battle is not flesh and blood, the church no matter how successful in the world’s eyes, cannot defeat our enemies. As we talked about yesterday, we have to keep our eyes on Jesus, which means we follow His word, not words about His word from false teachers and preachers. You cannot say you are a Christian and disobey His word, just like you cannot say you are a Christian and be part of a cult like LDS.
Jesus died on the cross and then rose from the dead. Paul said, 1 Corinthians 15:3 “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.” He did not leave His disciples as orphans. 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. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.” Jesus did not just rise from the dead and return to heaven, He appeared to His disciples after He was crucified. They were not just sent out with power in the gospels before Jesus was crucified and then that was it. When God first sent them out, this was a demonstration of the power the church would have after Pentecost. Luke 10:8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” 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.” When Jesus appeared to His disciples, Luke 24:38 “He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” He then said, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 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.” This was just the beginning. The church was to go to the ends of the earth proclaiming the good news of the gospel, healing the sick and casting out demons. When Jesus appeared to His disciples before ascending into heaven, He said, Acts 1:8 “But 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.” The church was to go out with the same power that raised Jesus from the dead.
It is strange how Christmas and Easter get all the attention and sadly all the commercialism, while Pentecost although recognized on the Christian calendar gets basically no attention and it is good that it has not been commercialized. Pentecost doesn’t have its Santa Claus and gifts, no Easter Bunny and chocolates and there is no power which is strange because Pentecost is all about power. Yes, Lent is over, and a person may have given up chocolate so when Easter comes it only makes sense that a bunny would lay chocolate eggs and then get more attention than our Savior who died on the cross for our sins. People try to attract new people to church by having Easter egg hunts though I am pretty sure healing the sick and casting out demons would be much more effective.
Like Palm Sunday, the church should not be celebrating because the church is desolate and powerless, yet every year the church goes through the ritual of celebrating Christmas and Easter, meanwhile nothing changes, and the church remains powerless against our enemies which means millions are dying without ever knowing the truth or dying thinking they knew the truth. You can’t fake power although many have tried. Yes, people can appear to be powerful because they have reached a high level of success. The power of God has been replaced by the power of success. Yes, there are many powerful leaders and powerful churches, but the power of God is nowhere to be seen. These so-called successful gurus then write their own manuals for you to follow. To be truly successful, the word of God is the only manual you need. Joshua was told Joshua 1:7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Many have been deceived by the world’s view of power. Luke 4:5 “The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.” Many have taken satan up on that offer. Also many in the church have been deceived by satan masquerading as an angel of light which is not the same as the power of God. 2 Corinthians 11:13 “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. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9 “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.” Many, many people in the church have been deceived by satan’s deceptions. The babble that people call tongues, fake revivals, falling down backwards, laughing like drunks, fairy dust, gold fillings, people writhing on the floor, healing that is questionable and on and on the list goes. Included in this are false prophets and teachers making millions off Christianity. It is not just the charismatics who have been deceived. Those who are opposed to disciples being given authority and power to do as Jesus did are also deceived.
Easter really is about power. Jesus rose from the dead by the same power that the church would be sent out in. Ephesians 1:19 “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.” That power is available to all who would believe. We haven’t seen this power because the church has followed a different Jesus and other gospels. Yes, Jesus died for our sins and for those who believe His word will receive eternal life, but that is where the problem lies. Many say they believe, yet they reject His word. Many get saved but do not check to see what they have been saved into. They then go to church for the rest of their life, looking to be fed and if the meal changes, or they don’t like something, they go somewhere else to satisfy their appetites. 2 Timothy 4:3 “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” There will always be someone that will tell you what you want to hear. That is why God sends His prophets who will tell you what you don’t want to hear. This will be nothing new, just what the bible already states. Yes, there are still prophets today even though you may have been told there are not. Ephesians 4:11 “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Nowhere in the bible does God say he did not mean to say that, just as there is nowhere that says the power the disciples had stopped with them and nowhere does the bible say, all the gifts of the Spirit are not still available. Like I said before; are there really no sick people that need God’s touch today? 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.” Yes, Jesus intended for His disciples to have gifts of healing as given by the Spirit. The only place this is said is by false prophets and teachers teaching doctrines of demons and guess who is behind these teachings? 1 Timothy 4:1 “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” satan today is standing in the pulpit of the church, in seminaries and bible colleges and bible studies.
After Jesus rose from the dead, He met His disciples, just as He said He would. Matthew 26:31 “Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” After Jesus rose from the dead, the women were told, Mark 16:6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” Most people describe the Matthew 28 passage as the great commission after Jesus rose from the dead. 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.” But this passage in Mark says the same except in more detail about the authority. Mark 16:12 “Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. 13 These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either. 14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. 15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 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.” 19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 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.” This is what all authority means. He had already empowered the disciples to show us what power the church would have. 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. 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, drive out demons.” This would be the power the church after Pentecost would go out with.
The gospels end with Jesus dying on the cross and rising from the dead. But that is not the end of the story. The church is then empowered at Pentecost and then sent out. The book of Acts begins with our risen Savior sending His disciples out into the world with power and authority from on High. 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.” Jesus had already shown us what the church was to continue to do. 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.” These acts of power by Jesus were supposed to be the same as the acts the church would do. We know this because the gospels were not just about Jesus, but they were also about His disciples. Once Jesus began His ministry, He empowered His disciples to go and do as He did. Luke 9:1 “When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” The Gospels are not just a story about Jesus but a guide for the church to follow as we saw in Acts. If you believe the gospels, and believe Jesus is alive, then you must believe that He empowers His disciples, even today. If you have been told Jesus does not, you have been deceived because the bible does not say that.
The book of Acts begins in power with Jesus who had risen from the dead, alive and eating and drinking with his disciples. Paul’s prayer talks about this power. 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.” We should still be praying this prayer. Peter after Pentecost said, Acts 2:38 “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” That means everything we read about should be happening in the church today. Peter’s words about saving yourself from this corrupt generation still applies.
After Pentecost we saw the church go out and do as Jesus did in the power of the Holy Spirit. Right away we saw a man healed and the opposition (satan- not flesh and blood) the church would continue to face. But we also see the ongoing outpouring of the Holy Spirit as Pentecost was just the beginning. 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.” Pentecost has just happened to those same people. I also wanted to add that we are calling on God to pour out His Spirit once again but that also means people will not be able to lie as they do now in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Picture this happening in your local church. Acts 5:3 “Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.” The same happened to his wife. 11 “Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.” There was also more healing and demons casted out just as Jesus did. Acts 5:5 “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.” Many say it was just those few apostles who had this power but that is not true. They say this because God’s word does not line up with their own doctrines and theology, but Stephen was, Acts 6:8 “a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.” Another man chosen to wait on tables along with Stephen was Philip. These men were “full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 8:4 “Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 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.” This was supposed to be the church as it went to the ends of the earth.
Then the Holy Spirit would continue to be given. Remember as you read above, the Holy Spirit was poured out again after Pentecost as that is how the church was powered. Just to show you the opposing views, here is a dispensational view that says, “the outpouring of the Spirit is a completed prophecy that ushered in the church age (key clue- dispensationalism) and the New Covenant in which all believers are given the Holy Spirit.” If that was the case then everyone who says they are filled with the Sprit would be doing as Jesus did, but they are not and the church would not be the mess it is today. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit was not just to get the church off the ground but to keep it going. Pentecost was not a one-time event, just as a high-powered vehicle is not just filled up one time. Sadly, that is a picture of the church today; high powered but sitting empty in a building. satan has deceived the church so much that they refuse to even desire the power of God in their midst. I still can’t wrap my head around that. The Holy Spirit sent Peter to Cornelius even though as Peter said, Acts 10:28 “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.” So then Peter goes and preaches. 37 “You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. 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. Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.” Jesus had told them that He would, Mark 16:20 “confirm his word by the signs that accompanied it.” That meant Peter was preaching the gospel. Then we see the same with Paul, Acts 19:1 “Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “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.” Everyone who received the spirit was not written down. The laying on of hands was to continue. Today the church only seems to know John’s repentance and the rest like the charismatics don’t seem to know it is not the Holy Spirit they have surrendered to.
The book of Acts ends with Paul going to trial. Acts 20:36 “When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. 38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.” Pauls’ final words in Acts were, Acts 28:25 “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet: 26 “‘Go to this people and say, You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 27 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ 28 “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” Before this journey to Rome, Paul had said, Acts 20:29 “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.” Jesus said wolves in sheep’s clothing, Paul said savage wolves and we have seen the results of those wolves because the church did not heed the warning and with calloused hearts do not see or hear.
The Gentiles turned away just as the Jews did, as their hearts also became calloused. Paul said to the Jews, Acts 13:46 “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 rejected the eternal life that was made possible by Jesus dying on the cross. Because of that rebellion, 2 Thessalonians 2:10 “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.” So not only has God allowed the abomination that causes desolation to decimate the church, God has also brought delusion upon the church along with the deception of satan. All this because of rebellion. 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.” Instead of destroying the work of satan with power and authority from on High, the church has been destroyed by satan. All this has happened because the church refuses to submit to God and God alone. Now the church is like the temple that king Josiah needed to restore. His father king Amon 2 Kings 21:20 “did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as his father Manasseh had done. 21 He followed completely the ways of his father, worshiping the idols his father had worshiped, and bowing down to them. 22 He forsook the Lord, the God of his ancestors, and did not walk in obedience to him.” When king Josiah was restoring the temple, they found the book of the Law. That means it was not being used. 2 Kings 22:11 “When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. 12 He gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Akbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant: 13 “Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord’s anger that burns against us because those who have gone before us have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us.” 2 Kings 23:25 “Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.” The church needs to do the same.
Today the church is celebrating our risen Savior Jesus but acts as if He is dead and are not acting in accordance with His word. Titus 1:16 “They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him.” Our actions stem out of our beliefs. Because the church doesn’t believe God’s word, actions reveal unbelief. For the most part the church is powerless, but for most that is how they have been taught and what they know. They let what they can see dictate their beliefs instead of believing the word of God. They have not been taught that there is power available for all who would believe even though the bible clearly states there is. They have not been taught the church was to continue to do as Jesus did in the same power and authority. Paul was told Acts 26:15 “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, the Lord replied. 16 Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. 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 this, but the church is not an acts church and looks nothing like the Gospels or the Book of Acts. As Josiah said, the church has not acted in accordance with the word of God, therefore satan has been allowed to decimate the church just as the Assyrians and Babylonians destroyed Israel and Judah. That was the result of their own actions. Jeremiah 4:21 “Your own conduct and actions have brought this on you. This is your punishment. How bitter it is! How it pierces to the heart!” 22 “My people are fools; they do not know me. They are senseless children; they have no understanding. They are skilled in doing evil; they know not how to do good.” Jeremiah 35:15 “Again and again I sent all my servants the prophets to you. They said, “Each of you must turn from your wicked ways and reform your actions; do not follow other gods to serve them. Then you will live in the land I have given to you and your ancestors.” But you have not paid attention or listened to me.” Jeremiah 44:22 “When the Lord could no longer endure your wicked actions and the detestable things you did, your land became a curse and a desolate waste without inhabitants, as it is today. 23 Because you have burned incense and have sinned against the Lord and have not obeyed him or followed his law or his decrees or his stipulations, this disaster has come upon you, as you now see.” Jeremiah 18:11 “Now therefore say to the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, ‘This is what the Lord says: Look! I am preparing a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. So turn from your evil ways, each one of you, and reform your ways and your actions.’ 12 But they will reply, ‘It’s no use. We will continue with our own plans; we will all follow the stubbornness of our evil hearts.’” Ezekiel 36:19 “I dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered through the countries; I judged them according to their conduct and their actions.” All this can be said about the church.
Today the church thinks all is well with their soul, but they have been deceived and deluded. That means millions have been deceived and deluded and will not see eternal life. Jeremiah 7:1 “This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Stand at the gate of the Lord’s house and there proclaim this message: “‘Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the Lord. 3 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. 4 Do not trust in deceptive words and say, “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!” 5 If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, 6 if you do not oppress the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, 7 then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your ancestors for ever and ever. 8 But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless. 23 but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you. 24 But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward. 25 From the time your ancestors left Egypt until now, day after day, again and again I sent you my servants the prophets. 26 But they did not listen to me or pay attention. They were stiff-necked and did more evil than their ancestors.’ 27 “When you tell them all this, they will not listen to you; when you call to them, they will not answer. 28 Therefore say to them, ‘This is the nation that has not obeyed the Lord its God or responded to correction. Truth has perished; it has vanished from their lips.” The church actually thinks that God is with them, even though they have rejected His word, but as we can clearly see just by looking at the church, there is no power which means God has turned His face from us. No amount of doctrinal creativity can change that, only repentance will turn God’s face back to the church.
Like the church, the people refused to listen. When Ezekiel was called to speak the word of the Lord, God said, Ezekiel 3:11 “Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says,’ whether they listen or fail to listen.” Ezekiel 2:5 “And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them.” The lack of action by the church shows that there is no interest in changing, even though the church is desolate and void of power. I was looking at one of the hymns the church sings at Easter called “I Serve a Risen Savior.” The chorus says “He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.” You have to ask some questions. Does He live? Do you really believe that? If you answer yes and you believe Jesus is alive, then act like it by believing His word. Matthew 8:16 “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: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.” If you believe Jesus is alive, then you would believe that Jesus is still taking up our infirmities and bearing our diseases. Is Jesus really walking with you down a narrow way or have you been deceived into thinking the wide gate is the right way? Does He live in your heart? For Jesus to live in your heart, you 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. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching.” The answer is no, Jesus is not in your heart if you are following other gospels or rejecting parts of His word because His words make your own doctrines wrong. We change our beliefs, not the bible. One part of the song says, “The day of His appearing will come at last.” If you are following other gospels, you do not want that day to come before you repent. You do not want to hear this from Jesus. Luke 13:23 “Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ 26 “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’” Or this, Matthew 25:41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
Even those verses do not frighten people. They think that can’t be me, I go to church. There is no fear of God in the church and people continue to go their own way, add to and subtract from God’s word and ignore or do not believe, yet continue to call themselves Christians and continue to celebrate a risen Savior with absolutely no fear. Isaiah 8:13 “The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread.” Matthew 10:28 “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Today the church has a distorted view of God’s love. Jeremiah 5:12 “They have lied about the Lord; they said, “He will do nothing! No harm will come to us; we will never see sword or famine.” God then said, 13 The prophets are but wind and the word is not in them; so let what they say be done to them.” As scripture shows us, disaster followed. Because of rebellion, God has allowed the enemy to overrun and destroy Israel, Judah and now the church. But there is still hope because of God’s promise to David. Jeremiah 33:20 “‘If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night no longer come at their appointed time, 21 then my covenant with David my servant—and my covenant with the Levites who are priests ministering before me—can be broken and David will no longer have a descendant to reign on his throne.” The moon has been amazing as have been the sunrises and sunsets. In a few weeks there will be a solar eclipse that the whole world won’t be able to see but will be aware of. The solar eclipse will take place Monday April 8, 2024. You can even see a map of the path of totality with exact times and locations. One chart I looked at listed the solar eclipses starting in 2001 – 2100 very precisely down to the minutes and exact locations. I just read that many are already preparing for this event. “The mayor of Niagara Falls, Jim Diodati, previously said up to one million visitors are expected to come to the city to watch the eclipse.” “In a news release, the region said the state of emergency is a proactive step to ensure it is prepared to accommodate the “once-in-a-lifetime event.” All these people will be looking to the skies, but will they look to Jesus and turn back to God, the creator of this amazing event that is taking place? Luke 12:54 Jesus said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. 55 And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?”
The moon, sun and stars have been doing just as God designed, yet the church refuses to acknowledge the creator of the universe because they refuse to follow His word. Some in the church even reject the creation narrative because scientists have decided a big boom, boom could be this precise. The rejection of God is so severe that people actually choose to believe something as idiotic as the big bang theory that explains nothing, yet people have chosen to worship a particle, instead of worshipping the true theory of everything, God. Israel and Judah refused to listen to the prophets who spoke God’s word. Jeremiah 8:6 “I have listened attentively, but they do not say what is right. None of them repent of their wickedness, saying, “What have I done?” Each pursues their own course like a horse charging into battle.” Jeremiah 44:16 “We will not listen to the message you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord!” The only hope we have is to return to God’s word and follow wholeheartedly. The church must believe what we are celebrating today, that Jesus has risen from the dead and reigns on David’s throne. What if the church actually acted like Jesus was alive? What if instead of going through the ritual of Easter Sunday, the church actually acted in accordance with the word of God. Then God would turn His face back to the church and the church would once again go to the ends of the earth with power and authority. Sure, the church has reached the ends of the earth but there is no power and people have been taught to follow a different Jesus and other gospels. What if the church truly believed in the Holy Spirit that they say they have within them? Instead, as Jeremiah describes, Jeremiah 12:2 “You are always on their lips but far from their hearts.” Jeremiah 9:6 “You live in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me,” declares the Lord.” Jesus said, Mark 7:6 “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’ 8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” 1 Corinthians 15:2 “By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.” The church let go!
God said, Zechariah 1:3 “Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty. 2 “The Lord was very angry with your ancestors. 3 Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty. 4 Do not be like your ancestors, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices.’ But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declares the Lord. 5 Where are your ancestors now? And the prophets, do they live forever? 6 But did not my words and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, overtake your ancestors? “Then they repented and said, ‘The Lord Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve, just as he determined to do.’” Lamentations 5:1 “Remember, Lord, what has happened to us; look, and see our disgrace. Joy is gone from our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning. 16 The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned! 17 Because of this our hearts are faint, because of these things our eyes grow dim 18 for Mount Zion, which lies desolate, with jackals prowling over it.” 2 Chronicles 30:6 “People of Israel, return to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that he may return to you who are left, who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7 Do not be like your parents and your fellow Israelites, who were unfaithful to the Lord, the God of their ancestors, so that he made them an object of horror, as you see. 8 Do not be stiff-necked, as your ancestors were; submit to the Lord. Come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever. Serve the Lord your God, so that his fierce anger will turn away from you. 9 If you return to the Lord, then your fellow Israelites and your children will be shown compassion by their captors and will return to this land, for the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him.” Isaiah 33:2 “Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.”
By rejecting God’s word, the church has rejected Jesus just like the Jews. Zechariah 2:13 “Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.” Ezekiel 24:14 “‘I the Lord have spoken. The time has come for me to act. I will not hold back; I will not have pity, nor will I relent. You will be judged according to your conduct and your actions, declares the Sovereign Lord.’” This is why we must repent. There is good news and there is still hope for those who would turn from their wicked ways. Isaiah 59:20 “The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins, declares the Lord.” Ezekiel 18:23 “Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live? 30 Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. 31 Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? 32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!” Ezra 9:8 “But now, for a brief moment, the Lord our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage.” Isaiah 54:7 “For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back. 8 In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord your Redeemer.” Zechariah 8:2 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I am very jealous for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.” 3 This is what the Lord says: “I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City / City of Truth, and the mountain of the Lord Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.” Psalm 102:1 “Hear my prayer, Lord; let my cry for help come to you. 2 Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly. But you, Lord, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations. 13 You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come.” Ezekiel 39:25 “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will now restore the fortunes of Jacob and will have compassion on all the people of Israel, and I will be zealous for my holy name. 26 They will forget their shame and all the unfaithfulness they showed toward me when they lived in safety in their land with no one to make them afraid. 27 When I have brought them back from the nations and have gathered them from the countries of their enemies, I will be proved holy through them in the sight of many nations. 28 Then they will know that I am the Lord their God, for though I sent them into exile among the nations, I will gather them to their own land, not leaving any behind. 29 I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.” Ezekiel 37:27 “My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Ezekiel 36:24 “‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 32 I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign Lord. Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct, people of Israel!” Hosea 6:1 “Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. 2 After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. 3 Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”
God has not forsaken His people and He will keep His promise to David. The same power that raises Jesus from the dead will destroy our enemies and be freed from captivity. Jeremiah 51:5 “For Israel and Judah have not been forsaken by their God, the Lord Almighty, though their land is full of guilt before the Holy One of Israel. 6 It is time for the Lord’s vengeance; he will repay her what she deserves. The Lord has vindicated us; come, let us tell in Zion what the Lord our God has done. The Lord will take vengeance, vengeance for his temple. The Lord will carry out his purpose, his decree against the people of Babylon. 13 You who live by many waters and are rich in treasures, your end has come, the time for you to be destroyed. 24 “Before your eyes I will repay Babylon and all who live in Babylonia for all the wrong they have done in Zion,” declares the Lord.” Ezekiel 12:28 “Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign Lord.’” Jeremiah 31:11 “For the Lord will deliver Jacob and redeem them from the hand of those stronger than they. 12 They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will rejoice in the bounty of the Lord— the grain, the new wine and the olive oil, the young of the flocks and herds. They will be like a well-watered garden, and they will sorrow no more. 13 Then young women will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow. 14 I will satisfy the priests with abundance, and my people will be filled with my bounty,” declares the Lord. “Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded,” declares the Lord. “They will return from the land of the enemy. 17 So there is hope for your descendants,” declares the Lord. “Your children will return to their own land.” Jeremiah 33:10 “This is what the Lord says: ‘You say about this place, “It is a desolate waste, without people or animals.” Yet in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted, inhabited by neither people nor animals, there will be heard once more 11 the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord, saying, “Give thanks to the Lord Almighty, for the Lord is good; his love endures forever.” For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before,’ says the Lord.”
Ezekiel saw the glory of the Lord leave the temple and saw the glory return. Ezekiel 44:4 “I looked and saw the glory of the Lord filling the temple of the Lord, and I fell facedown.” We are praying that God’s glory will return to us. Today, 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.” So that means God does not dwell in the building but the people. When God turns His face back to the church, He will once again dwell among His people just as it was supposed to be starting with Pentecost. 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 22:9 “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.” Because the church rebelled, it has been decimated by satan and needs to be rebuilt. Nehemiah 1:3 “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” “On April 15, 2019, a fire broke out under the eaves of Notre-Dame Cathedral’s roof.” Remarkably, “the cathedral plans to reopen for both church services and tourist visits in December 2024, the full restoration won’t be complete until 2025.” Efforts to restore the building has been a massive undertaking but what man sets out to accomplish, amazing things can happen. In the end you will have a beautiful sepulcher that has been whitewashed and totally void of God.
The problem is that even though man is really good at building with their own hands, they do not focus of returning to God. They do not return because the church has been deceived and deluded into thinking they do not need to return. Proverbs 30:20 “This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’” Jeremiah 5:3 “Lord, do not your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain; you crushed them, but they refused correction. They made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent.” The reality is that even though man can accomplish amazing feats, we see time and time again how quickly those feats can come down. Recently in the news you would have seen a massive bridge in Baltimore come down in seconds after being hit by an enormous ship. They have already begun the process of removing the steel and then they will rebuild. The same happened when the World Trade Center Twin towers came down in an instant. When a earthquake or tsunami hits, what man has made can be demolished instantly. Malachi 1:4 “Edom may say, “Though we have been crushed, we will rebuild the ruins.” But this is what the Lord Almighty says: “They may build, but I will demolish.” God allowed disaster to fall on Israel and Judah because of their rebellion. Habakkuk 1:6 “I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwellings not their own. 8 Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves at dusk. Their cavalry gallops headlong; their horsemen come from afar. They fly like an eagle swooping to devour; 9 they all come intent on violence.”
There is hope though we do not deserve it. Jeremiah 31:28 “Just as I watched over them to uproot and tear down, and to overthrow, destroy and bring disaster, so I will watch over them to build and to plant,” declares the Lord.” If the church would be as troubled over the desolation of the church as they were when Notre-Dame caught fire, repentance would come and God would hear our cry. If the church would put as much effort into returning to God as they did to rebuild Notre-Dame, the power of God would once again be available to the church. All the church, you and I, has to do is humble ourselves before God and submit to Him.
The body of Christ needs to be rebuilt, just like the first temple after they went back to the promised land. Though they may try to rebuild the third temple, the third temple was already built with Jesus as the cornerstone. We are not waiting for a third temple to be built. Isaiah 28:16 “So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.” Matthew 21:42 “Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?” The church is Ephesians 2:20 “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.” Jesus said Matthew 16:18 “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.” But instead, the church decided if would be better if they built the church themselves and so they built cathedrals and yes, they were built to the glory of God and then churches continued to build buildings and develop programs in them and yes to the glory of God. So, for two thousand years the church has built with their own hands and now the church is further from the truth than ever before. satan has decimated what Jesus said He would build just as both temples were destroyed by their enemies.
The church was to be built with the power of the Holy Spirit, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead so that the church could do as Jesus did. Buildings do not defeat satan, the power from on High does. There are many successful churches that are filled with people who think they have the Holy Spirit, but there is no power because what they have built is not the church Jesus began to build. They have been deceived and deluded. The keys were taken away from the church and the kingdom did not come near. The truth of the gospel is not being preached, the sick are not being healed and demons are not being cast out. Jesus said He was the Messiah because Matthew 11:5 “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.” Since Jesus lives, that should still be the same. If the church would humble themselves once again, God would come near and power would return to the church. Today there is only a remnant of survivors left. No one would have survived if it wasn’t for the grace of God. Matthew 24:22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive.” The good news is because God promised David there would always be a remnant, the church will be rebuilt. Matthew 24:10 “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Most did not stand firm and grew cold so the remnant that survives will build the church as Jesus intended. Amos 9:11 “In that day “I will restore David’s fallen shelter— I will repair its broken walls and restore its ruins— and will rebuild it as it used to be.” Just as the first temple was rebuilt, so will the church. Isaiah 44:24 “This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the Lord, the Maker of all things, who stretches out the heavens, who spreads out the earth by myself, 25 who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who overthrows the learning of the wise and turns it into nonsense, 26 who carries out the words of his servants and fulfills the predictions of his messengers, who says of Jerusalem, ‘It shall be inhabited,’ of the towns of Judah, ‘They shall be rebuilt,’ and of their ruins, ‘I will restore them,’ 27 who says to the watery deep, ‘Be dry, and I will dry up your streams,’ 28 who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please; he will say of Jerusalem, “Let it be rebuilt,” and of the temple, “Let its foundations be laid.”’ Acts 15:15 “The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written: 16 “‘After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, 17 that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things’— 18 things known from long ago.” Isaiah 58:1 “The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. 12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.” Ezekiel 36:33 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt. 34 The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. 35 They will say, “This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited.” 36 Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the Lord have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.’”
Although those who had seen the first temple before it was destroyed wept when they saw the foundation of the second temple, God said, Haggai 2:2 “Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. 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.’ 6 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7 I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty. 8 ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. 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.” 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.”
Many will say we do not need to rebuild, everything is going great; but is it? Is there the same power we see in the Gospels and Acts? Is there power to defeat enemies? Has someone told you that power is not available? Are you seeking all the gifts of the Spirit? 1 Corinthians 14:1 “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.” We can no longer be busy with our own houses and leave the church in ruins. Haggai 1:2 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house.’”3 Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” 5 Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” 7 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord. 9 “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house. 10 Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. 11 I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the olive oil and everything else the ground produces, on people and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.” Nehemiah said Nehemiah 2:17 “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace. 18 Let us start rebuilding. So they began this good work. The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding.” Zechariah 8:9 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Now hear these words, ‘Let your hands be strong so that the temple may be built.” Isaiah 35:3 “Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; 4 say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” 5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. 6 Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. 7 The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow. 8 And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it. 9 No lion will be there, nor any ravenous beast; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, 10 and those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”
Because He lives, the church will once again be sent out in power from on High to do as Jesus did!
