By Jannie Linney
We have just celebrated the time man has set for the “Passion”, “The Last Supper Jesus had in His earthly form with His Disciples” and “His awesome Resurrection from the dead.” Knowing this series, history records the only person that went through the awful horror for the salvation of all who had ever been born, extending on through all who would ever be born.
No other god has ever suffered for all mankind. No other god died and was buried for all mankind. No other god was resurrected form the dead for all mankind by the creator of this universe, the one who made all things, even you and me! “For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever beleiveth in Him should not perish, but gave everlasting life” [John 3:16].
We like to stop there. It is a blessing to have that good feeling and a few days off, knowing that God fixed it for us. Now we can go on our merry way until Thanks Giving and Christmas. The word of God does not stop there. It is written, that very day, of His resurrection on Sunday, at evening time, the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for the fear of the Jews; Jesus came and stood in the midst of them. He said “Peace be unto you, then showed them His hands and His side. The disciples were glad to see Him. “Then said Jesus unto them again, Peace be unto you: as My Father has sent me, even so send I You. And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:” [John 20:21-23]. He said that to the believers of that day and is still saying that to the believers of today.
Notice Jesus said “As My Father has sent me, even so I send you” The word “as” means, in like manor, what God the Father expected of Jrsus, He expects of you! “My Father” is talking about God Himself! There is nothing there to be questioned. In Matthew 28, Jesus told them, “all power has been given to me in heaven and earth. “Go ye therefore teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and low I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
He was saying “Because of this power you can go and win souls.” Jesus said “Behold I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shell by any means hurt you” [Luke 10:19]. Serpents and scorpions mean the evil forces that do damage or hinder the kingdom of God or His children. “All” in the Greek means “All” and nothing means “Nothing”. They were already “Believers” yet they received the Holy Spirit. All through the Word believers received the Holy Spirit upon them, He is already in them if they are born again, and they were filled with the Spirit over and over. There is only one Baptism of the Holy Spirit, but many filings. [That is because we leak]. Jesus went to a lonely place to pray often. We need to do that too.
Jesus told us to go as He was sent, then The Holy Spirit gives us the tools to work with, we just don’t believe it. Until the Church as a whole, begins to reveal the Power of God AS Jesus did, the evil of this world will continue to steal our children and cause Church growth to be almost impossible. It is written; as He is so are we in this world. [1 John 4:17b].
Let us pray that God will give us creative ways to reach the lost and dying world and help us see that we have the power of His Blood, The Power of His Holy Name, The power of His Word and the Gifts of His Holy Spirit.[1Cor.12] We are His Body on earth now!. He sent His Holy Spirit to flow through us to do His work here on earth. Jesus said “I do only those things I see my Father do.” We must do the same, that really is “The Great Commission.”
