Through Jesus, we have victory!!

These verses pretty much say it all: Beware of religious tradition of men that isn't according to the Bible. The fullness of God is in Christ. We find salvation by repentance, baptism in Jesus name, and infilling of the Holy Ghost. And we find victory over the devil through Jesus!

"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened [made alive] together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." - Colossians 2:8-15 KJV (Acts 2:38)

The Day of Atonement, the day in which the sins of Israel were pushed forward another year, was observed this year by Jews around the world beginning on the evening of October 11th, shortly before sunset, concluding after nightfall October 12th.

The Day of Atonement is called Yom Kippur in Hebrew. It means, “day of the lot”, named for the casting of the lot to determine which goat was offered in the Temple and which one was set free. This ritual ended when the Temple was destroyed in 70AD.

"And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD'S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness." - Leviticus 16:7-10

It is interesting that the complete book of Jonah is read in the afternoon service. It is said it is read for its timely message on the importance of repentance and prayer.

Jesus told the scribes and Pharisees that there would be only one sign given to it, and that would be the sign of the prophet Jonas (Jonah). Jesus compared His death, burial, and resurrection to Jonah in the whale.

"But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: for as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

“The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here." - Matthew 12:39-41 KJV

The book of Hebrews speaks of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, and Christ.

"But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: ... But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. ... So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." - Hebrews 9:7, 11-12, 28 KJV

While the Old Covenant never removed sins, but pushed them forward another year, we now find a complete removal of our sins by the offering of Jesus.

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

We find this by obeying the gospel as preached by Peter on the Day of Pentecost.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39 KJV

Part 2 of the Comforter…the Defense Attorney

We find satan, “the accuser of our brethren,” is also referred to as the Prosecutor. While satan accuses us of our sins, God’s Spirit acts as our Defense Attorney. Defense Attorney (“counsel for defense”) is a meaning of the Greek word translated as “Comforter.”

"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." - John 14:16-18 KJV

Jesus explained to His disciples that “the Spirit of truth” that was within His human vessel that “dwelleth with you,” “shall be in you.” Jesus revealed that His Spirit would come to them. “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”

"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you." - John 16:7 KJV

But first, Jesus needed to pay the price of death for our sins – which was His purpose in manifesting Himself in flesh and blood. “For if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you."  At the cross, His purpose was fulfilled. Jesus departed from them by death. On the third day, He rose from the dead. Forty days later, He ascended to heaven in bodily form.

"To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: and, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. ... And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight." - Acts 1:3-5, 9 KJV

On the Day of Pentecost, the promise Jesus made to His disciples - that He would not leave them comfortless, He would come to them - was fulfilled when Jesus poured out His Spirit on all those gathered in the upper room.

"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:4 KJV

Jesus gives us His Spirit not only for power to resist sin, but also as our Defense Attorney to "plead His blood," reminding satan – the Prosecutor - that when we are baptized in Jesus name the blood of Jesus washes away all of our sins leaving satan nothing to accuse us with!

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39 KJV

Comforter Part 1

"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." - John 14:18

Jesus comforted His disciples with the promise that He would never leave them nor forsake them. Though He would die and be buried, on the third day He would rise again.

"To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:" - Acts 1:3

When He departed from His disciples up to heaven forty days after His resurrection, He reassured them again that He would come to them in an even greater capacity, in “not many days hence.”

"And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." - Acts 1:4-5

"And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight." - Acts 1:9

On the Day of Pentecost, Jesus came to His disciples as He said He would. The Father that was in Christ doing the works, would now dwell in His disciples.

Before when Philip had asked Jesus to show them the Father,

"Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." - John 14:9-10

"If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." - John 14:15-17

"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." - John 14:18

Next: Part 2 of the Comforter… the Defense Attorney

David the psalmist, shepherd, giant killer, king of Israel and man of God wrote, "I will set no wicked thing before my eyes" (Psalm 101:3).

We must guard our eyes by what we choose to look at, for through our eyes the world has access to our mind.

Prayer and Revival 

Jesus has given us the privilege to be part of His kingdom by our obedience to the gospel. 

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. ... And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." - Acts 2:38, 42  

The battles we fight for the kingdom of God are not against people but against the rulers of the darkness of this world. Our weapon is prayer.  

"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." - 2 Corinthians 4:3-4  

We can pray and by the power of God and by the authority of His name Jesus, principalities and powers and the rulers of the darkness of this world are dismantled and rendered powerless. Minds that have been blinded by the devil are opened to receive the gospel, and there is revival.

The Gospel is a message of mercy –

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." - Romans 1:16 KJV

Our Father, the Creator of the universe, made Himself a temple of a human body to be born, to walk among His creation, to die on a tree, and to rise from the grave the third day.

"Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. ... But he spake of the temple of his body." - John 2:19, 21 KJV

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

As the final sacrifice for our sins, He made peace between Himself and humanity.

"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." - Colossians 1:20 KJV

We receive God’s mercy by obeying the Gospel.

"But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:" - 2 Timothy 1:10 KJV

The Gospel is obeyed by repentance, water baptism in Jesus name for the remission of sins, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39 KJV

The Song of Solomon (also called, Song of Songs) is a metaphor of the love of Christ and the Church. We are His beloved.

"I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine..." - Song of Songs 6:3 KJV

"While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof." - Song of Songs 1:12 KJV

"Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment." - John 12:3 KJV [Mary is a type of the Church]

The Feast of Tabernacles (Hebrew: Sukkot) began Monday October 17, 2016.

The Feast of Tabernacles is a seven-day feast observing the forty years the Israelites wandered in the wilderness dwelling in tents (tabernacles), God providing for them. This Feast celebrates the Lord’s provision for the Israelites during these forty years.

To observe the seven days and nights of the Feast of Tabernacles, observant Jews dwell in a tabernacle (Hebrew: a sukkah), a hut of temporary construction with a roof covering of branches. For seven days and nights, all their meals are eaten in this hut. During the Feast of Tabernacles (Hebrew: Sukkot), these temporary huts are regarded as their home.

Today, Sunday October 23, 2016, is the seventh day of the feast.  This last day is called in Hebrew: Hoshaana Rabbah, which means "Great Salvation."

The Feast of Tabernacles is mentioned in the New Testament in the book of John. Today is referred to as, “the last day, that great day of the feast.”

"Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand. ... Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. ...  In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" - John 7:2, 14, 37-39 KJV

When the Temple stood, starting with the second night of the Feast, there was a grand Water Drawing Celebration. The Talmud states that "one who has not witnessed the Festival of the Water Drawing has not seen joy in his lifetime!"

How fitting it is, that Jesus stood up on this final day of the Feast of Tabernacles prophesying of the pouring out of His Spirit, the Holy Ghost! It is rivers of living water, quenching the thirst of our soul!

When we come to Jesus by repentance, baptism in Jesus name, and receive His Holy Ghost, we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory of our great salvation in Jesus!

"Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." - 1 Peter 1:8-9

Church!

Jesus is coming soon! Make sure all sin is repented of, you’ve been baptized in the name of Jesus that washes sin away, and are full of the Holy Ghost, speaking in tongues as the sign you are completely filled.

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." - Hebrews 10:25 KJV

When asked, "what shall we do?"

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

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

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

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

“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." - Acts 2:38-42 KJV

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38

Jesus has given us the privilege to be part of His kingdom by our obedience to the gospel.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. ... And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." - Acts 2:38, 42

The battles we fight for the kingdom of God are not against people but against the rulers of the darkness of this world. Our weapon is prayer.

"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." - 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

We can pray and by the power of God and by the authority of His name Jesus, principalities and powers and the rulers of the darkness of this world are dismantled and rendered powerless. Minds that have been blinded by the devil are opened to receive the gospel, and there is revival.

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

"For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

"As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." - Galatians 6:7-10 KJV

"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" - Romans 11:33

"For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?" - Romans 11:34

And yet, God put on flesh and lived among us, and man beheld His glory. As many as received Him, He gave them power to become His sons, even to them that believe on His name, JESUS. (John 1:12-14, Acts 2:38)

Because of His great love for His creation, the Great Creator became our Savior, taking our place and dying on a cross for our sins. On the third day, He raised His flesh up by the power of His Spirit, revealing to the world that through Him there is victory.

His depths and His riches are revealed to us by His Spirit. Through the baptism of the Holy Ghost, we now have a glimpse of God's awesomeness. Through His love for us and our love for Him in return, Jesus has given us life beyond this mundane existence. Through Him, we have a life more abundant. And more than that, we have life eternal, a place prepared for us in heaven. (John 10:10, John 14:3)

"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." - 1 Corinthians 2:9

"But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." - 1 Corinthians 2:10

When we turn away from sin by repentance, have our sins washed away by baptism in Jesus name, Jesus promises us the gift of His Spirit. (Acts 2:38)

"For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ." - 1 Corinthians 2:16

With the gift of His Holy Ghost we receive the mind of Christ, getting a glimpse of the endless treasures available to us in Him.

"Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;" - Ephesians 3:8

Some people are confused about speaking in tongues. They say, “Yes, I believe I received the Holy Ghost, but I didn’t speak in tongues…because I don’t have the gift of tongues.” When a person is born of the Spirit, they speak in tongues! Just like when a baby is born and takes his first breath of air, he utters a sound!

"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. ... The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." - John 3:5, 8 KJV

"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:4 KJV

The “gift” of “tongues” (1 Corinthians 12:10) is one of nine gifts given to the church to MINISTER to the CHURCH BODY.

"For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:" - 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 KJV

The “gift” of FAITH is ALSO one of the nine gifts. “Faith” is similar to “tongues” in that BOTH are necessary for our new birth INTO the kingdom of God.

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." - Hebrews 11:6 KJV

The “GIFTS” of faith and tongues are on a higher dimension given to members of the body to MINISTER TO OTHERS.

"There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. ... But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:" - 1 Corinthians 12:4, 7 NKJV

We do not need the GIFTS of the Spirit to be saved. We DO need to be filled with the Spirit to be saved. When we are filled with the Spirit (the Holy Ghost), we speak in tongues.

EVERYONE must have faith to come to God, just as EVERYONE speaks in tongues when they receive the Holy Ghost!

"And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied." - Acts 19:6 KJV

When you are looking for God you want Truth. You want to know the way.

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." - John 14:6 KJV

If we follow the way of the flesh of Christ, we will come to the Spirit of Christ, the Father.

"If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him." - John 14:7 KJV

We know the way of the flesh of Christ. He had to deny His flesh and allow the Spirit of God that was in Him to accomplish His mission to save the world which would take suffering and death on a cross.

"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." - Matthew 16:24 KJV

We follow Christ by denying our flesh, saying no to sinful desires. We crucify this lustful nature by repentance. We follow Christ’s burial by water baptism in Jesus name. We follow Christ’s resurrection when we receive the gift of His Spirit, the Holy Ghost.

"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." - Romans 6:3-6 KJV

This is the way to God.

"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them..." - 2 Corinthians 5:19 KJV

Because sin separates us from God, He put on a sinless human body to pay the price of death for our sins so that we could come back and have peace with Him.

"For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; and, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself..." - Colossians 1:19-20 KJV

We follow Christ’s death by repentance. We follow Christ’s burial by baptism in Jesus name. This is how we can come unto the Spirit of Jesus, the Father within Him. Peter preached this message on the Day of Pentecost when the church first began. This is truth, and this is the way to God.

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

“For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39 KJV

When a person repents, is baptized in Jesus name, and is filled with the Holy Ghost, God forgives all this: 

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.  

“And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 KJV 

God forgives - we should too. If we truly have the love of God in us, we will forgive. 

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8 KJV  

When we have “enemies”, we will not look forward to God's justice and judgment upon them. Instead, we will pray for God's mercy and that He forgives them, just as He forgave us. 

"And such were some of you..." - 1 Corinthians 6:11 KJV 

How did we escape God’s judgment for the sins we committed? We turned from our sin and applied the blood He shed for us by baptism in His name. 

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39 KJV 

"And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." - Ephesians 4:32 NKJV 

"And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep [died]." - Acts 7:59-60 KJV  

"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." - Matthew 6:14-15 KJV 

"Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.  Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:" - Luke 6:36-37 KJV

Isaiah prophesied of the rest that Jesus has for those that answer His call.

"For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear." - Isaiah 28:11-12

This rest Isaiah spoke of is the Holy Ghost. We speak in tongues when we receive the Holy Ghost.

"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:4 (See also: Acts 9:6 and Acts 10:44-46)

Jesus told us if we come to Him, take His yoke upon us, and learn of Him, we will find this rest.

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." - Matthew 11:28-30

When Jesus calls us and we come to Him, we turn our back on the world. We love Him with all of our heart, soul, and might. (Deut. 6:4-5) We take His yoke when we are baptized in water in His name Jesus. When we are joined to Jesus, full of His Spirit, we find rest for our souls

The Holy Ghost is rest for our souls. Jesus promises His Holy Ghost to us when we repent and are baptized in Jesus name.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38

"For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:39

When you receive the Holy Ghost, you speak in another tongue (language) as God speaks from within you. This is a language that you have not learned, but are words spoken “as the Spirit of God gives the utterance.”

"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:4 KJV

Speaking in tongues is a universal sign that a person is being filled with God’s Spirit. It occurs when a person is being “born of the Spirit.” EVERYONE experiences speaking in tongues when they are born of the Spirit, and this birth is necessary to enter the kingdom of God.

"And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God." - Acts 10:45-46 KJV

"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. ... The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." - John 3:5, 8 KJV

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38

Verses:

"God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

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

For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." - Romans 6:2-11 KJV

"But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." - Galatians 6:14 KJV

"In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;" - Colossians 2:11-13 KJV

"And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." - Romans 8:10-13 KJV

"Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:" - Colossians 3:5 KJV

"For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: in the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all." - Colossians 3:3-11 KJV

When Peter realized that Jesus is God in a human body – “the Christ, the Son of the living God” – Jesus told him He would give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven and authority.

"And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." - Matthew 16:19

Jesus spoke to Nicodemus of the kingdom of God. (“The kingdom of heaven” is interchanged with “the kingdom of God” i.e. Mark 10:14, Matt. 19:14)

"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." - John 3:5

While Jesus made it clear we must be born of water and of the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God, he did not give specifics. Jesus gave Peter the keys as to how exactly we are born again. Peter revealed this on the Day of Pentecost after he received the Holy Ghost.

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. ... And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:1, 4

When the people asked, “What meaneth this?” Peter preached the gospel, letting them know they had crucified their Messiah, the One they had been waiting for.

Then the people asked, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38

Peter made it perfectly clear what Jesus meant when Jesus said a man must be born of water and of the Spirit. The keys to the kingdom of heaven are to repent, to be baptized by immersion in water in the name of Jesus Christ, and to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

We now understand what we must do.

We see from our human experience that when a baby is born there is a sound. It is when the baby inhales his first breath that the sound is emitted – a cry! This is how we know the baby is alive outside the womb. He must take a breath, or he will die. If there is no sound, there is a panic: the baby has not taken that life giving breath.

That breath that a baby receives when he is born is like the Spirit we receive when we are born again of the Spirit. Jesus explained that just as the wind has a sound that accompanies it, so likewise the Spirit has a sound that accompanies it.

Jesus spoke to Nicodemus:

"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. ... The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." - John 3:5, 8 KJV

So it is as Jesus said, when we are born of the Spirit there is a sound. We see in the Bible and from our experience today that this sound is speaking in tongues (Acts 2:4, Act 10:45-46, Acts 19:6).

Tongues are languages. Tongues is the sign of receiving the Holy Ghost, speaking in a language we do not know as the Spirit of God speaks through us. We speak in other tongues as God is filling us with His Spirit, trusting and allowing Him to change our words of praise into a language we have not learned.

When a baby takes his first breath and cries out, that is not the end of the story! If he is going to survive, he MUST continue to breath, and usually, he will continue to make sounds. As he grows, he will become more articulate, speaking clear words, and then forming sentences.

So it is in our new birth experience. If we want to stay spiritually alive, we must continue to be filled with God’s Spirit. And, as Jesus said, there is a sound accompanying the Spirit.

[Note: Speaking in tongues when receiving the Spirit is not to be confused with the “gift of tongues”, which is one of nine gifts of the Spirit given by God to minister to the church body. The “gift of faith” is another of the nine gifts of the Spirit. Everyone might not have the “gift of faith”, and everyone might not have the “gift of tongues”, but everyone must have faith to come to God, and everyone speaks in tongues when they are filled with His Spirit.]

From: Ballestero Blog

https://martynballestero.com/2014/12/10/why-my-english-teacher-wanted-to-be-baptized-in-jesus-name-anniversary-re-post/

Jesus laid our foundation by His death, burial, and resurrection. When we apply His foundation to our life by becoming dead to sin by repentance, buried with Him by water baptism in Jesus name, and resurrected by the infilling of His Spirit to live a holy life, we are ready to build a new life in Christ.

"According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." - 1 Corinthians 3:10-11

There was no man that was without sin that could pay the price of our sins to set us free from our death sentence. For the wages of sin is death.

God, in His love and mercy, put on human flesh so that He could pay the price for us. He came in His name “Jesus”.

He could pay the price because He is holy, born without sin. So by His death, burial, and resurrection, God provided a way for us to once again, as in the beginning, have eternal life with Him.

We find eternal life by repentance, baptism in Jesus name for the remission of sins, and by receiving the gift of God’s Spirit within us, His Holy Ghost.

It is on this foundation, the gospel, that only Jesus could lay, that we begin building a new, holy life.

"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:" - Romans 3:10

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" - Romans 3:23

"And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him." - Isaiah 59:16

"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." - 1 Peter 2:24

"For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." - 1 Peter 2:25

"But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life." - Romans 6:22

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." - Romans 6:23

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38

"And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." - Acts 2:42

Jesus is our rock. The foundation is the gospel. When we obey the gospel of Jesus Christ, we build our lives on Him. When the storms of life come our way, they cannot shake us.

"And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:

"He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock."

"But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great." - Luke 6:46-49

What did Jesus tell His disciples?

"Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things."

"And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." - Luke 24:45-49

Jesus’ disciples had already repented and been baptized in Jesus name. They then obeyed Jesus’ command, went to Jerusalem, and received the Holy Ghost – “power from on high” – on the Day of Pentecost.

It was on the Day of Pentecost that Peter preached repentance and remission of sins in Jesus name, just as Jesus said should be preached. Peter told how to obey the gospel, the foundation of our faith, building our lives on Jesus, the solid rock.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39

"And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." - Acts 2:42

When we have prayed all the words we can think of, the Lord can pray through us in tongues as the Spirit of God speaks through us in languages we have not learned. The Lord can speak precisely what the person or situation needs and that only Jesus may know about.

"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." - Romans 8:26-27

"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;" - Ephesians 6:18

"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." - Colossians 2:8-9 KJV

Paul prophetically warned the church of a tradition that would take the name of Jesus out of water baptism. This happened in 325AD at the Council of Nicaea. It is BY THE NAME OF JESUS that sins are remitted (removed)! No wonder the Dark Ages soon followed.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39 KJV

The LORD our God is one LORD – His name is Jesus. He is Spirit that robed Himself in flesh so He could redeem us back to Himself by shedding His blood. He is our shepherd.

"A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." - Psalms 23:1

"Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young." - Isaiah 40:10-11

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

Jesus made us. He is our shepherd. He gave His life for us.

"Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture." - Psalms 100:3

"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." - John 10:11

"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." - 1 Peter 2:24-25

He is coming back for those that follow Him.

"And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." - 1 Peter 5:4

"When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." - Colossians 3:4

How shall we prepare for His coming?

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38

"For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:39

"And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." - Acts 2:42

What is Rosh Hashanah?

"And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD." - Leviticus 23:23-25 KJV

In Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah means, "head of the year". It is the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, a day of judgment, and coronation by the Jewish people proclaiming God King of the Universe.

This holy day is the day of the sounding of the shofar. The shofar is a ram's horn which is blown like a trumpet. (A ram is a male sheep.) The shofar represents the trumpet blast of a people’s coronation of their king. The sound of the shofar is also a call to repentance, for Rosh Hashanah is the anniversary of man’s first sin and his repentance, and is the first of the “Ten Days of Repentance” which end with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

The shofar (ram’s horn) is a reminder of the Binding of Isaac which also occurred on Rosh Hashanah, in which a ram took Isaac’s place as an offering to God. Isaac is like the people of God - a holy, living sacrifice, giving themselves in love in service to God. The Ram was a shadow of God providing Himself a substitute blood sacrifice, the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world – Jesus Christ (John 1:29). The shofar's call is like a love call...

One of the most important observances of this holiday is hearing the sounding of the shofar. A total of 100 blasts are heard over the course of the Rosh Hashanah services.

Rosh Hashanah began at sunset October 2, 2016 and ended at nightfall October 4, 2016. It will be the Jewish Year 5777.

http://www.chabad.org/holidays/JewishNewYear/template_cdo/aid/4762/jewish/What-Is-Rosh-Hashanah.htm

We are saved by the gospel. The gospel is preached, we receive it, and we stand in it.

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;" - 1 Corinthians 15:1

We are saved by the gospel when we not only believe it, but also obey it.

"By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain." - 1 Corinthians 15:2

The gospel is that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day – the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel ... For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" - 1 Corinthians 15:1, 3-4

How do we obey Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection?

We become dead to sin.

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" - Romans 6:1-2

We become dead to sin by turning our back on sin by repenting.

We are buried with Jesus by water baptism by immersion with the name of Jesus called over us.

We are resurrected with Jesus when we are baptized with His Spirit, the Holy Ghost, speaking in other tongues as God’s Spirit gives us the utterance (God changes our tongue/language).

"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." - Romans 6:3-4

Jesus called this being born again of water and of the Spirit. This is necessary to enter God’s kingdom.

"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." - John 3:5

When we believe the gospel AND we are water and Spirit baptized, we are saved; the gospel was not preached to us in vain.

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." - Mark 16:15-18

We have obeyed the gospel when we repent, are baptized in Jesus name for the remission of sins, and have received the gift of the Holy Ghost.

"And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed ) in that day." - 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10

On the day of Pentecost, Peter preached the gospel – the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

"Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it." - Acts 2:23-24

"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." - Acts 2:36

Peter then preached how to obey the gospel.

"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:37-38

Peter let them know that the gospel is for everyone.

"For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:39

Then those that believed the gospel and received the gospel obeyed the gospel.

"And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." - Acts 2:40-42