May 2017 – Become The Sons of God

WHAT IS THE BAPTISM OF FIRE? 5/21/17

In Hebrews 6:1-3 we read of the doctrine of baptisms. “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the DOCTRINE OF BAPTISMS, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit.” Hence, this passage suggests that more than one baptism is required if godly perfection is to be achieved. What are these baptisms?

First, a public confession of faith and commitment to Christ is demonstrates with a clear conscious toward God through Water Baptism, which typically follows saving faith or a salvation experience.

Next, we experience the anointing of His Spirit with the mighty Baptism of the Holy Ghost, in which we receive the power to witness to others and communicate the very oracles of God in an expanded prayer language.

Finally, a third baptism is recorded in Luke 3:16, “John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with Fire.” But what is the purpose of this Firey Baptism?

Historically, a warm fire has been understood as a universal symbol of love. Even in a love sonnet from Song of Solomon 8:6, we read:

Set me as a seal upon your heart,
as a seal upon your arm;
for love is strong as death,
passion fierce as the grave.
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
a raging flame.

Moreover, when Solomon dedicated the first temple, and the people saw fire from the Lord descending over it, they understood that it demonstrated the Lord’s love for them. This love is described in 2 Chronicles 7:3. “When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “For he is good, for his steadfast LOVE endures forever.” Likewise, when Jesus Christ baptizes us with the Fire of the Holy Spirit, it is a baptism of intense spiritual and divine LOVE that is truly overwhelming and transforming.

With the Baptism of Fire, Jesus Christ cleanses our hearts by changing our desires, and motives, so that we no longer even want ungodly pleasures or things. And if we are tempted, instead of being drawn to those old, ungodly pleasures we find the very thought of indulging in them intensely distressing and unpleasant.

Additionally, this baptism has historically been considered by most Christians to be an intense and long process of purification that does not occur easily. Rather than look to scripture, Christians have traditionally defined the experience by gravitating to the secular phrase, “trial by fire.” In other words, death to ungodly desires could take years of trial, temptation and tribulation. This long and exhaustive process is also often associated with another phrase not found in Scripture known as “Christian Maturity.” Although there may be some truth to these concepts, it is not likely the appropriate definition for the Baptism of Fire. Why?

Because from scripture we understand the advent of a fiery purification occurs suddenly. Indeed this is consistent with the whole notion of “baptism.” Reading Malachi 3:1-3, “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall SUDDENLY come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s FIRE, and like fullers’ soap: and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.”

Precious believer, if your walk with Christ is filled with a sense of failure and spiritual bankruptcy, then look to Jesus for victory. Ask Him to save you, deliver you, fill you and baptize you in the fire of the Holy Ghost. He longs to hear your heart’s cry even now.

Be blessed in Jesus name,
Brother Jerry Turk

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REST of GOD – 5/17/17

“Come unto me all ye who labor and are heavy burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me.
There is therefore a rest that remains for the PEOPLE OF GOD. He that is entered in His (God’s) rest hath ceased from ALL HIS LABORS. Therefore labor to enter into the rest of God.”

This REST spoken of in the above scripture is not speaking of Heaven! Rather, this is a description of a realm or a position where believers might dwell in utter dependence upon God resulting from a cessation of self direction and self dependency.

This is the mark of maturity; the choice to lay down all independent thought, words and actions. This IS the rest of God!
Paul said it another way; “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, YET NOT I, BUT CHRIST LIVETH IN ME…”

There are a great many works being done and words spoken in the name of Jesus. However, only those works and words that the Father initiates will produce fruit that remains. All other works, regardless of how “good” they might seem, are fraudulent! In other words, a work produced in the name of Jesus yet not initiated by or from Jesus is a fraud; a copy-cat. Jesus said that those who did works in His name without even knowing the will of God were workers of iniquity! -(Matt. 7:21-23)

Therefore we must labor to enter God’s rest. Labor and rest; these two words seem to indicate an oxymoron. However, this is not a contradiction but rather a acknowledgment that there must be a conscious effort on our part to make a diligent effort to move away from our own ideas and deeds, turning rather to Gods explicit direction and will.

When we enter into God’s rest we find ourselves living in the fullness of the New Covenant! “…For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, AND WALK IN THEM; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. – 2 Cor. 2:16. Many of God’s people have received the blessing of the New Covenant but are not living out of the fullness and reality of the Covenant that God made and keeps for us!

What joy and peace have those who are confident that the Great I AM has finished the works! As we become more and more sensitive to the moving of the Holy Spirit and The Voice of God, we can become His instrument, His Sword, His voice, His hand etc; all at His bidding! Jesus said, “Learn of me.”

When Jesus was tempted by the devil to turn stones into bread He testified that His bread (sustaining power) were the Words that God spoke to Him. Jesus had the power and the authority to turn stones into bread. But He refused to do so because he had not received a “Word” from God to do so. Jesus was teaching us the way of submission and utter dependence upon God. Too many of us are presumptuous when it comes to serving and working for God. We think we can go out to battle without meeting with the King for His instructions. When we speak when God has not spoken, our words are like stones; they condemn, bring division and bring forth death. Even the letter of the word brings death when it is not ignited by the Holy Spirit! Only God can cause our words to be turned from stones to bread or that life giving quality that only His words possess!

If we long to see greater miracles and the greater works that Jesus said we would do, let us enter into the rest of God! Let God work in you, walk in you, talk in you and live His life through you! “For the sons of God are led by the Spirit of God.”Romans 8

GO TO YOUR CLOSET. SUP WITH JESUS. ABIDE IN HIM.

Praise God for this great glory that has been shared with us; that we have been call to a co-operative relationship with the Covenant keeping King…who lives, walks, rules and reigns in us and through us! Amen.

Free Will? 5/9/17

WHY DID GOD GIVE MAN A FREE WILL IF HE KNEW WE’LL JUST USE IT TO DO EVIL?

This is a really great question. The standard answer is about “free will” and God not wanting robots and the like. But that really doesn’t satisfy, does it? Because if it’s all about choice then we might conclude that God is evil… creating man with full awareness that most will go to hell, or at the very least, “come short of the glory of God” (Rm.3:23). And that doesn’t quite sound like a loving God, now does it.

But I know Him. I believe the Bible is God’s Word and I know John 3:16, “For God so loved the world…” So what we have here is an apparent contradiction. But thank God, He has made provision for our lack of understanding.

In this case, human reasoning will not “convince the gainsayer” (Titus 1:9). Instead, we need the “Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation” (Eph.1:17). Recall he said “When the Spirit of Truth shall come, …he will lead and guide us into all truth” (Jn.16:13). So the question demands a revealing by the Holy Ghost. And, quite frankly, for the Christian, this question is beyond human reasoning. So what’s the answer?

Jesus revealed the answer to this question in the story of the Prodigal Son (Lk.15:11-32). The son had everything. But he demanded his inheritance, then squandered it in sin and wound up in a pig pen. He then reasoned if he went back to his father, he might be allowed the life of a servant. And, O Hallelujah! The father upon seeing his son return, ran to him, threw his robe around him, placed a ring on his finger and ordered the fattened calf readied for a great feast.

Now the older brother questioned his father’s judgment. He asked, why do all this for him. I never left your side. Why should he get so much celebration? To which the father replied, he once was lost or as good as dead, but now is found.

Great story, right? But how does this relate to the question? Ok. We are the prodigal sons. We were “chosen in him before the foundation of the earth” (Eph.1:4) Look at Romans 8:29, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate…” Foreknow: that means “I knew you before.” Angels have even questioned why should we be heir to all things, even heir to Christ Himself (Phil.3:9 & Rm.8:17), and even called to be ONE with him – like he prayed in John 17:21 (that they might be one in us)? Because LOVE cannot be understood or comprehended unless it is lost, …truly gone forever, and then suddenly regained by no effort on our part (Eph.2:8 – “For by GRACE are you saved…”).

This is what is called REDEEMED, brought back and bought back by the precious blood of Jesus (Eph.1:7). By his grace we are returned to our original calling, we are returned to glory. Not just like it was in the garden with Adam and Eve, but like it was when we were in Him before the foundation of the earth.

Though it seemed impossible, He paid the price. Like the robe on the prodigal he covers us with his blood. The ring the father gave to the prodigal speaks of our renewed royal standing in the family of God. The slain fattened calf speaks of Christ and Calvary. And yes, the feast is not just a type of the Marriage Feast of the Lamb that we anxiously await, but it even speaks of our reconciled fellowship with Him in the here and now. Re-read the Book of Acts to gain an appreciation of what our current walk with Him can be like.

So we see that Paul’s prayer was Right-on concerning us. “That you might be able to comprehend with all the saints the height, and depth, and breadth of the love of God” (Eph.3:18). A love that is no more beyond understanding, but is actually comprehended. This knowledge, when revealed by the Holy Ghost, will forever change your walk with Him. Why? Verse19, “So that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.”

I pray that the eyes of your understanding be enlightened to know the hope of your calling and the hope of His calling in you (Eph.1:18). Be blessed in Jesus precious name.

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Now Faith – 5/1/17

“NOW FAITH…
is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report.” (Heb.11:1-2)

Did you catch that? Evidence? Why are we reading about evidence? Because your faith is on trial and so are you. Why? Because you have “Now Faith.” It is current, in the moment. Not “then faith” or “when faith,” but NOW FAITH. This is why you stand accused and why your faith is on trial.

“Now Faith” is an offense to those who have when faith, then faith, wrong faith or no faith. And your faith is the substance of things hoped for. By substance I mean… it’s SUBSTANTIAL! It is no small thing! So it creates a great offence.

And in this trial your lawyer, Jesus of Nazareth, calls for evidence and witnesses on your behalf. The primary evidence is that your Faith produces things like hope, something that cannot be seen, but neither can it be dismissed.

So your hope, which may not seem reasonable or logical, is quite substantial because it is enduring and has persisted for 1000s of years. And it is something that you now possess.

How do we know of the enduring nature of your Faith? Because by it the elders obtained a good report. What report, what elders?

The Bible is the report. It encompasses the testimony of a multitude of witnesses, called elders. So Jesus calls on not 1 or even 10 witnesses, but hundreds of witnesses whose written testimony spans hundreds of generations.

In fact, God himself takes the witness stand. Check out verse 4 of the same chapter. “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God TESTIFYING of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.”

So if you are new to this enduring and persistent family of Faith, rest assured you too now have a Good Report. Your accusers have nothing. Your verdict: INNOCENT, because you have the Faith of Jesus, your God, who paid your ransom, your bond, your bail, your sentence of guilt… with His own precious Blood.