The Holy Spirit's Role in the Rapture

The Rapture, End Times and the second coming of Jesus, these terms have always held me in a certain state of wondrous mystery and even a little trepidation, especially in my early walk with the Lord.

What does it all mean?

What’s it all about?

What’s going to happen to the Church?

What’s going to happen to my family and I?

Will we (the Church) go through the tribulation?

These are some of the questions that have buzzed through my mind from time to time. Fortunately for us the Bible has the answer to all our questions. The Holy Spirit reveals all things to us and reminds us of what the scriptures say. But we do need to know the Bible for ourselves, please read and study the Bible for yourself as often as you can!

Ok so what is the purpose and function of the Holy Spirit in the Rapture?

Let’s start off with one of my favourite passages of scripture from the Old Testament it is a passage of scripture that I regularly pray into being and scripture that we all know so well:

Joel 2:28-32 (NIV)

28 “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams,

your young men will see visions.

29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

30 I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke.

31 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

32 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said,even among the survivors whom the Lord calls..

This passage of scripture was also quoted by the Apostle Peter at Pentecost in Acts 2:17-21.

I also believe that God will pour out his Spirit like this in the last days to prepare His Church for the rapture, when those that belong to Him and that are still alive here upon earth will be taken up into the clouds as Jesus comes with a loud trumpet blast. Come, Lord Jesus! Come!

Preparing us for the rapture is one of most important functions of the Holy Spirit in the ‘End Times’.

Now is the time (today) for the Church to stand up in faith and fully embrace the Holy Spirit in all his fullness. It is time for each and every believer to immerse himself in the power of the Holy Spirit to enable us to bring glory to Jesus.

It is time for each and every believer to eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit especially the gift of prophecy so that we can build up and edify each other to do the works that God has predestined us to do. Now is the time for the fruit of the Spirit to be manifest in us and through us to a dying world!

It is time for each and every believer to walk in the Spirit every minute of every day and allow him to take complete control of our lives so that the gifts of the Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit will be manifest in us and through us at all times and in this the name of Jesus will be lifted up and glorified.

It is time for healings and the casting out of demons, miracles, signs and wonders, to follow us everywhere we go! It is time for the Church to rise up in the power of the Holy Spirit and win the lost to salvation in Christ Jesus – IT IS TIME FOR THE LAST AND GREATEST HOLY SPIRIT REVIVAL so that the Church will be cleansed and ready for the coming of the Lord, whether He comes now, next week, next year or in the next 100 years. This will only be done through Spirit filled believers moving in His power and His strength! This will glorify the name of Jesus!

Now is the time for the army of God to be mobilised and to put on the full armour of God and ward off the attack of the enemy in these turbulent times!

It is time for the Church to be ready and waiting for the trumpet blast and the coming of the Lord in the sky at any time.

Church! Keep your lamps burning and never let them go out! It is time for all born again believers to keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit and live in a state of permanent fiery revival. Not in a state lukewarm lethargy that will see the Lord spew us out! Let us not become a bad taste in the Lord’s mouth!

Ephesians 5 :18 (AMP)

Do not get drunk with wine, for that is wickedness (corruption, stupidity), but be filled with the [Holy] Spirit and constantly guided by Him.

Revelation 3:16 (AMP)

So because you are lukewarm (spiritually useless), and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth [rejecting you with disgust].

Let’s take heed of the mystery that Paul tells us about in 1 Corinthians and be ready for the final trumpet blast of the Lord:

1 Corinthians 15:51-56 (NIV)

51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

55 “Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Rapture - the time when we will hear the trumpet blast of the Lord and we will see him coming on the clouds. The dead in Christ will rise first and then we will be caught up in the clouds with him. The Holy Spirit will complete his work in us and then Jesus returns for us at the Rapture. Our earthly bodies will be changed in the twinkling of an eye to our resurrection (glorified) bodies by the power of the Holy Spirit. Resurrection bodies (imperishable) will also be given to the dead in Christ that arise.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NIV)

13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

The Holy Spirit is called the Comforter by Jesus and the Greek word for comforter is ‘paraklétos’ and has the expanded meaning of counsellor, helper, encourager and advocate. This expanded meaning of the Holy Spirit along with the many spiritual names he has in the Bible like, power of God, fire of God, creative power etcetera, builds for us a picture of strength and comfort that every believer must tap into every day, not just in the last days.

We can do all things in Christ Jesus who strengthens us. How does he strengthen us? By the power of his Holy Spirit of course, that is why the Lord sent the Comforter to us. We can all tap into the full power of God in Christ Jesus and all we have to do is appropriate it in belief and walk in faith as Abraham did, as Paul did and as Jesus himself did when he walked among us as a man!

It was the Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead and it is the Holy Spirit that will do the same for his followers at the Lord’s Rapture for those who have fallen asleep. Paul wrote about this in the book of Romans.

Romans 8:11 (NIV)

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

Prophecies of the Rapture from the New Testament
In John 14 we see Jesus talking to the disciples just be before he is arrested, and he is telling them that he has to go away to prepare a place for them in the Father’s house – which to me speaks of heaven as that is where God dwells. The Lord then goes on to say to the disciples that because he is preparing a place for them in heaven it stands to reason that he will come back to fetch them – this to me speaks of the Rapture. What do you think?

John 14:2-4 (NIV

2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Now it appears that the disciples seemed to have some trouble in understanding what the Lord meant as Thomas in verse 5 says, “Lord we don’t know where you are going so how can we get there?”

John 14:5 (NIV)

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus’ response to Thomas and the disciples is that they know that the only way to the Father is through him.

John 14:6 (NIV)

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

This response still doesn’t seem to clear things up for the disciples as Philip asks, in verse 8, the Lord to show them the Father.

John 14:8 (NIV)

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

Now this statement from Philip seems to exasperate the Lord just a little bit as he says in verse 9 words to this effect, “Philip, I’ve been with you for all this time and you still don’t know me?” He explains just who He is to Philip. He then goes on to tell them the things that he has told them many times before over the past three years. But strangely enough he doesn’t explain any further about the place he is preparing for them and coming back for them to take them there!

John 14:9-11 (NIV)
9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.

One other thing of significance that he does say though in verse 26 is that the Holy Spirit, when the Father sends him to them, will teach them many things and that he will remind them of everything he (Jesus) has taught them and everything he has said to them.

John 14:26 (NIV)

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

It is not until a few years after the Lord’s ascension into heaven that we get a fuller picture of what the Rapture will entail. We get this enlightenment through the Apostle Paul in his first letter to the Thessalonian Church.

Let’s have a look at the scripture in 1 Thessalonians 4 again, shall we?

1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 (NIV)

14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

So, in the above verses Paul gives us a pretty clear picture of what will happen when the Lord comes for his Church, most commonly known as the Rapture. Let’s put the happenings down in bullet point form:

• The dead in Christ shall rise first, including Jesus’ twelve disciples.

• Then the Church, the ones that are alive on earth at the time, will be taken to meet the Lord in the air.

• He also tells us to encourage one another with these words.

Preparing our incorruptible bodies, resurrecting the dead and transporting us to meet the Lord in the clouds, is all the work of the Holy Spirit. This is confirmed by Paul himself in the book of Philippians.

Philippians 3:20-21 (NIV)

20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control (The Holy Spirit), will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

In the above verses Paul reveals to us that at the Rapture our earthly bodies will be transformed by the Lord through the power of the Holy Spirit into our heavenly bodies to be caught up with Jesus in the clouds ready to go with him into heaven – see John 14:2-4 again, where Jesus tells the disciples that he is returning to the Father in heaven and that his Father’s house (heaven) has many mansions and that he is preparing a place for us – His Church, when he comes for us at the Rapture.

Now there are different schools of thought about the Rapture brought about by many learned Bible Scholars over the centuries, right through to today. There are different answers put forward to the questions:

• Does the Rapture and the second coming of Jesus take place at the same time?

• Will born again believers that are alive at the time have to go through the Tribulation or will they be Raptured before?

• Will the Rapture take place before the Tribulation, halfway through or at the end?

As I’ve said before, I’m no bible scholar, I’m just a born again believer that loves Jesus and wants everything that He intends me to have and serve Him on the path that the Father has willed for my life.

Personally, from my understanding of scripture, I believe the rapture will take place before the tribulation. Why on earth would our Heavenly Father want His children to suffer through the tribulation! The tribulation is a judgement of God for those who have not accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour at the point of the Church’s rapture.

Matthew 24:40-42 (NIV)

40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come

What I want to really do here is encourage my readers to, regardless of when the rapture will take place, live life in the Spirit now, today, as Paul encourages us to do in Romans 8 and to be ready right now to be Raptured.

Are you ready? Are you walking in the Spirit? Are you living your life on the path that the Father has predestined for you right now? Are you ready for the Rapture?

Remember your life is all about Jesus!

We belong to Him!

Prayer:
Heavenly Father
I pray that you will fill me with your Holy Spirit and keep on filling me. I pray that in the power of your Holy Spirit that you would help me to walk on the path that is your will for my life. I pray that you would show me and help me to do the works that you have predestined me to do before I was born. Help me, O Lord, to live life in the Spirit always that I may bring glory to your name, the name of Jesus. Bless me. O Lord, that I may be a blessing to others. Amen.

To Jesus belongs all glory honour and praise!

Jesus, the Name above all names!

Acts 4:12 (NIV)

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

The Great Falling Away!

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I implore you with all my heart and in sincere love for you:

Do not fall away from your faith in Christ Jesus!

In the above verse (2 Thes 2:3) the Apostle Paul is telling us that the second coming of Christ will not happen unless the apostasy (the great falling away) comes first.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-2

Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come.

So, let’s now examine what the word apostasy means.

The Greek word for apostasy used in this verse is ‘apostasia’ (Strong’s 646 pronounced ‘ap-os-tas-ee-ah’) and its expanded meaning is: defection from, apostasy, a falling away (from a previous stance), an abandonment of a previous belief.

Paul tells us quite clearly that this falling away by professing Christians will take place and exhorts us not to let anyone or anything deceive us or entrap us into falling away from Christ! Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing and do not become friends with the world – a friend of the world and its practices is an enemy of God!

Matthew 7:15 (AMP)

“Beware of the false prophets, [teachers] who come to you dressed as sheep [appearing gentle and innocent], but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

James 4:4 (NIV)

You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

In God’s eyes when we become aligned with the world, He considers us to be adulterers and His enemies.

How will I know if I am falling away?

1. When you are alarmed, frightened and living in continual fear!

‘Watch out and see that you do not become alarmed.’ In other words, be aware of what is happening in the world around you but do not be alarmed by it nor involved in it!

Matthew 24:4-8 & 10 (AMP)

4 Jesus answered, “Be careful that no one misleads you [deceiving you and leading you into error]. 5 For many will come in My name [misusing it, and appropriating the strength of the name which belongs to Me], saying, ‘I am the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed),’ and they will mislead many. 6 You will continually hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end [of the age]. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs [of the intolerable anguish and the time of unprecedented trouble].

10 At that time many will be offended and repelled [by their association with Me] and will fall away [from the One whom they should trust] and will betray one another [handing over believers to their persecutors] and will hate one another.

2. When you have unconfessed or wilfully hidden sin in your life.

Isaiah 59:2 (NIV)

But your iniquities have separated

you from your God;

your sins have hidden his face from you,

so that he will not hear.

Having unconfessed or hidden sin in our lives hinders our relationship with God. We need to honestly examine ourselves regularly against the standard that God sets for us in the Bible – we know when we are not in right standing with God. The longer we take to confess our sin the colder we will become towards the things of God until we fall away completely.

3. If you have allowed unbelief and stubborness into your heart

Hebrews 3:12 (AMP)

Take care, brothers and sisters, that there not be in any one of you a wicked, unbelieving heart [which refuses to trust and rely on the Lord, a heart] that turns away from the living God.

If you do not believe any part of the Bible or you stubbornly refuse to trust God with all your heart, then you are falling away from God – the writer of Hebrews calls this ‘a wicked, unbelieving heart’. When you set yourself stubbornly against anything in the Bible and have unbelief in your heart you are in rebellion to God and His Word, and rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft!

1 Samuel 23a (NLT)

Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft,

and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols.

4. When you are paying attention to deceiving spirits – believing the lies of the devil about things that are contrary to the Word of God.

1 Timothy 4:1-2 (NIV)

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.

In verse one above the Greek word for deceiving is ‘planos’ and it’s expanded meaning is: misleading, deceiving, wandering; a deceiver, an imposter.

So, deceiving spirits are those that lead people away from the truth of God’s Word and they abandon the faith, they then come to us as wolves in sheep’s clothing and teach false doctrines which are the doctrines of demons the servants of the devil. Beware of these demons who come in the human form of false prophets and teachers! Their father is the devil the father of lies. These demons that control the lives of these false prophets and teachers want to devour you!

Always be on your guard – study the Bible so that you will be able to know the truth and recognise lies!

1 Peter 5:8 (AMP)

Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.

John 8:44 (NIV)

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

2 Peter 3:17 (AMP)

Therefore, [let me warn you] beloved, knowing these things beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of [unprincipled men [who distort doctrine] and fall from your own steadfastness [of mind, knowledge, truth, and faith],

Be careful who you believe and who you follow. Stay away from anybody who teaches anything that is contrary to the Bible and introduces the doctrines of man. Anything that does not align with the Word of God is a false teaching no matter who brings it. Get to know the Bible for yourself so that you will not be deceived!

The Bible warns the Church against falling away!

Let the following scriptures speak for themselves. Use them to examine yourself – repent and ask forgiveness where you need to, above all be honest with yourself because God already knows you – nothing is hidden from Him. Let the conviction of the Holy Spirit wash over you and bring healing to your soul so that you can move on to maturity in Christ Jesus! It is time for today’s Church to get right with God and reject any teaching that is contrary to the word of God!

Remember Jesus suffered and died for you, His blood was shed so that you can receive eternal life through Him. Therefore, do not keep on sinning and being disobedient to the teachings of the Bible, do not let your sin go unconfessed!

Hebrews 6:4-8 (AMP)

4 For [it is impossible to restore to repentance] those who have once been enlightened [spiritually] and who have tasted and consciously experienced the heavenly gift and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted and consciously experienced the good word of God and the powers of the age (world) to come, 6 and then have fallen away—it is impossible to bring them back again to repentance, since they again nail the Son of God on the cross [for as far as they are concerned, they are treating the death of Christ as if they were not saved by it], and are holding Him up again to public disgrace. 7 For soil that drinks the rain which often falls on it and produces crops useful to those for whose benefit it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God; 8 but if it persistently produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.

Do not be intolerant to the teachings of the Bible!

2 Timothy 4:3-4 (AMP)

3 For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine and accurate instruction [that challenges them with God’s truth]; but wanting to have their ears tickled [with something pleasing], they will accumulate for themselves [many] teachers [one after another, chosen] to satisfy their own desires and to support the errors they hold, 4 and will turn their ears away from the truth and will wander off into myths and man-made fictions [and will accept the unacceptable].

Die to self and embrace humility! These last days will be difficult unless you are living in the fulness of Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit! Keep your eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of your faith. Do not lean on man or your own understanding – the only rock we can lean on is Jesus Christ, the Rock of Ages – live your life in the Spirit! (Romans 8).

2 Timothy 3:1-5 (AMP)

But understand this, that in the last days dangerous times [of great stress and trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear]. 2 For people will be lovers of self [narcissistic, self-focused], lovers of money [impelled by greed], boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane, 3 [and they will be] unloving [devoid of natural human affection, calloused and inhumane], irreconcilable, malicious gossips, devoid of self-control [intemperate, immoral], brutal, haters of good, 4 traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of [sensual] pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith]. Avoid such people and keep far away from them.

Do not be disdainful of the last days or you too will perish!

2 Peter 3:3-4 (AMP)

3 First of all, know [without any doubt] that mockers will come in the last days with their mocking, following after their own human desires 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming [what has become of it]? For ever since the fathers fell asleep [in death], all things have continued [exactly] as they did from the beginning of creation.”

Do not become a mocker (scoffer) of God and His Bible or be associated with those that are or you will never be blessed! Take delight in Jesus your Lord and saviour and the Truth of His Word that is found in the Bible!

Psalm 1:1-2 (NIV)

Blessed is the one

who does not walk in step with the wicked

or stand in the way that sinners take

or sit in the company of mockers,

2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,

and who meditates on his law day and night.

Always be open and honest with yourself in your relationship with God because you cannot hide anything from Him and there is no place you can go to where He cannot see you!

Psalm 139:4,7-8 (NIV)

4 Before a word is on my tongue

you, Lord, know it completely.

7 Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

When we take our eyes off Jesus and go our own way, there is only one way we go and that is back to destruction!

Jeremiah 7:23-24 (NLT)

23 This is what I told them: ‘Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!’

24 “But my people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward.

In the world today, those people outside of Christ Jesus, are the same as those people in the days of Noah and will be destroyed as they were! This time not by water but by fire! Do not fall away and be enveloped with them!

Matthew 24:37-39 (NIV)

37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

Revelation 20:15 (NIV)

Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

2 Peter 2:4 (NLT)

For God did not spare even the angels who sinned. He threw them into hell, in gloomy pits of darkness, where they are being held until the day of judgment.

Prayer
Dear Father in Heaven
I pray in the Name of Jesus that you would keep me from falling away. Help me Lord to be obedient to your Word in all things. Lord, I ask that you keep my feet forever on your path, the path that is your will for my life. Keep me forever in your arms that I may be aligned with your heartbeat! Let me not fall away from you ever. Amen.

To Jesus belongs ALL glory, honour and praise!

Jesus the Name above all names!

What Should Today's Church Look Like?

 

The Church is not a building it is the born-again followers of Jesus Christ - one faith, one Church!

Acts 2:42-47 (AMP)

42 They were continually and faithfully devoting themselves to the instruction of the apostles, and to fellowship, to [eating meals together and to prayers. 43 A sense of awe was felt by everyone, and many wonders and signs (attesting miracles) were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed [in Jesus as Savior] were together and had all things in common [considering their possessions to belong to the group as a whole]. 45 And they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing the proceeds with all [the other believers], as anyone had need. 46 Day after day they met in the temple [area] continuing with one mind, and breaking bread in various private homes. They were eating their meals together with joy and generous hearts, 47 praising God continually, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord kept adding to their number daily those who were being saved.

The start of the Church just after Pentecost

The New Testament Church was started just after Pentecost with the first mass outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We can read about Pentecost and the Apostle Peter’s bold address to the crowd of his very first gospel message in Acts 2 from verses 1 – 41. In verse 41 we read this:

Acts 2:41 (NIV)

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

This was the birth of the Church of Jesus Christ. It was established in the power of the Holy Spirit. It was pure and, unlike today’s Church, without sect or denomination or entertainment programmes – just Jesus Christ and him crucified!

This is the model Church that today’s Church should be imitating in every way, but sadly does not! They preached the Word without compromise they were devoted to Jesus and each other! They didn’t bring the world into the Church they took the Church to the world! The pure, unadulterated word of God! It didn’t preach a message that would tickle peoples ears to make them feel good, it preached the message of the Cross, Jesus Christ and Him crucified so that people would be convicted of their sin and be able to repent from their sin and be born again, become new creations in Christ Jesus as their Lord and Saviour!

It was the Church that God himself wanted, conformed to the image of His Son, our Lord and Saviour – the King of kings who never changes!

Hebrews 13:7-8 (NIV)

7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Let’s examine how the New Testament Church (including today’s Church) should be structured (Biblically) and how it should be ministering in faith and in accordance with the Word of God in the power of the Holy Spirit and let’s not forget these word spoken to the Apostles by Jesus himself.

John 14:26 (NIV)

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

The apostles’ teaching was directly from Jesus who is the Word – brought to them by the Holy Spirit!

The Fellowship of the Believers
What were these new believers doing? What did their lifestyle look like? How was the Holy Spirit binding them together in unity to bring glory to the name of Jesus? How did they respond to the Holy Spirit’s leading and to the apostles’ teaching?

Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

What does ‘devoted to’ mean?

Verse 42 in Acts 2 starts off like this: “They (the Church) devoted themselves to……….”

Let’s examine what they were devoted to and how they were devoted.

Today’s dictionary meaning of ‘devoted to’ is:
Being devoted to something means being focused on that particular thing almost exclusively. When you are devoted to a cause, you work to achieve its goals. When you are devoted to a person, you place their needs above your own. Being devoted doesn't have to refer only to personal relationships.

So that’s how today’s modern dictionaries define ‘devoted to’, but in order to have a clearer picture of what the early Church would have understood by this we will need to examine the original Greek meaning of being devoted to.

Original Greek meaning of ‘devoted’ in Acts 2:42:

Proskartereo (pron: pros-kär-te-ray-o):

• to join together with

• to adhere to

• to be ready

• to give attention to

• to be fully committed to

• to spend much time together

• to be faithful

This is what the early church would have understood by the term ‘devoted to’ so let’s look at each term on an individual basis.

To join together with:

• What were they joined together with?

• With each other as the family of Christ

• The Apostles and their teaching - The Word

• And through this they were being unified as one Church in the power of the Holy Spirit

To adhere to:
The early church stuck together and did not deviate from the apostles’ teaching – they did not deviate from the Word of God.

To be ready:
They were being made ready to put into practice what they were being taught and to walk the Christian path as Jesus intended. A path of love, unity and self-sacrifice.

To give attention to:
They were focused on the Word, prayer, breaking of bread, fellowship with each other and with God.

To be fully committed to:
The were fully committed to God, to each other and to the teachings of The Word and in putting them into practice in the power of the Holy spirit.

To spend much time together:
They spend a lot of time together – devoted to each other in love of Christ. They didn’t shrink back from fellowshipping together as often as they could. They helped each other and encouraged each other. Their fellowship was Jesu focussed and not ‘world’ focussed!

To be faithful:
In all these things they were faithful as Christ is faithful to his Church! The unity of living life in the Spirit as Paul was later to describe in Romans 8!

What was the early Church devoted to – Acts 2:42?

1. The apostles teaching – The Word of God via the Apostles led and taught by Jesus, and by the Holy Spirit after the Lord’s ascension:

• Jesus – The Word – God

• Love for all mankind and especially for the family of believers – agape

• Salvation in Christ Jesus

• New Covenant (apart from the Law)

• Freedom in Christ

• Holy Spirit

2. Fellowship – from the Greek word Koinónia, meaning:

• In partnership with

• Being a contributory help

• Participation in

• Sharing in

• Communion with

• Spiritual fellowship

• A fellowship in the spirit

3. The breaking of bread

Luke 22:19

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.“

1 Cor 11:26

For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

In the verse above, Paul tells us exactly what we are doing, apart from remembering the work of Jesus on the cross, when we break bread together. We are proclaiming his death until he returns.

Now here it will be good for us to have a look at the meaning of the word ‘proclaim’ from the original translation of the word ‘proclaim’ comes from the Greek word ‘kataggello’.

Proclaim – Kataggello

• to proclaim

• to declare openly

• to preach

• to laud (praise)

• to celebrate

• to announce a message in a definite way

So, here we see that when we break bread together, at least two significant things happen that only the Church, the true born-again believer, can do.

• We remember the significance of the pain and suffering the Lord went through on our behalf that we may become born-again and thus reconciled to the Father.

• We announce to each other and to the world in an evangelical way that there is only way to the Father and that is by Jesus Christ His son and that we are committed to Jesus and to each other.

4. Prayer

• Corporate prayer

Acts 1:14

They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

Corporate prayer by the Church in unity, ushers in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost is our prime example!

When the Church is devoted to God and to each other in this way, supernatural things happen:

• People get saved, people get healed, people are delivered from demons!

Acts 2:47

praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

• We receive favour with the people

• Miracles signs and wonders follow us

• People get saved

Are you a devoted Christian and is your Church a devoted Church?

Are you a Jesus follower or a people pleaser?

Is your Church an entertainment centre or a place of worship to Jesus?

Today’s Church should look like the Acts Church for Jesus is the same yesterday, today and always! Amen!

Prayer
Dear Father in Heaven
Today I pray that you would fill me with your Holy Spirit and help me to become a devoted Christian in all ways. Help me to be devoted to Jesus and your Word. Help me to be devoted to my brothers and sisters in Christ and to fellowshipping with them. Help me not to be a lukewarm Christian but a doer of the Word. I ask this in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

To Jesus belongs ALL glory, honour and praise!

Jesus the Name above all names.

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for you reading and studying the Bible for yourself. My words are flawed the Bible is not!

Keeping in Step with the Holy Spirit

 

Keeping in step with the Holy Spirit!

What does this mean to us today as born-again Christians?

In our main verse, Galatians 5:25, the Amplified and the King James Bibles uses the term ‘walk’ by the Spirit.

Galatians 5:25 (AMP)

If we [claim to] live by the [Holy] Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage—our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit].

Galatians 5:25 (KJV)

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

The New International Version uses the term ‘keep in step’.

Galatians 5:25 (NIV)

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

And the New Living Translation uses the term ‘follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.’

Galatians 5:25 (NLT)

Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

Now, when we examine the original Greek text of this verse, we see that all these translations are in fact correct!

The Greek word used in all these English translations is ‘stoicheó’ (pron: stoy-kheh-o, Strong’s 4748) and its expanded meaning is: to be in rows (like marching), to walk in or by rule (in perfect alignment with).

‘Stoicheo’ comes from the Greek root word ‘stoixos’ and means a row, a line or a rank – properly walk in line, in strict accordance to or with a particular pace ("stride"); walk in cadence, "keep in step." (Strong’s 4748).

So, from this, it is quite clear to me that as a born again Christian, that as a person who has accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour, it is imperative that I live my life and walk my daily Christian walk by the leading of the Holy Spirit and in perfect unison with Him in order that my life may reflect Jesus and bring glory to Him alone!

Why is it so important for Christians to keep in step with the Holy Spirit?

The answer to this question is very simple, because Jesus did, and the Bible tells us to be imitators of Christ and He alone is the standard by which we should live by. It is important to remember here that Jesus is the Word.

John 1:14 (AMP)

And the Word (Christ) became flesh, and lived among us; and we [actually] saw His glory, glory as belongs to the [One and] only begotten Son of the Father, [the Son who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, who is] full of grace and truth (absolutely free of deception).

Ephesians 5:1 (NLT)

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.

The Apostle Paul also tells us to imitate him as he imitates Christ!

1 Corinthians 11:1 (NLT)

And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

Jesus was in perfect unison with the Holy Spirit. He began His ministry on earth after being water baptised and being baptised with the Holy Spirit as a man. He was led by the Holy Spirit and this was pleasing to God.

Matthew 3:16-17 (NIV)

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

It is significant for us to note as born-again Christians that the first thing Jesus did after he was baptised in the Holy Spirit was to follow Him (The Holy Spirit) into the wilderness, to overcome temptation and to put the devil in his place by knowing the Word of God. We all know the way to overcome the devil’s temptation is by following Christ’s example……”it is written…..!” That’s right, by being filled with the Holy Spirit – by knowing the Bible – by being in step with the Holy Spirit – and by being obedient to and doers of the Word!

Mathew 4:4 (NIV)

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

Matthew 4:7 (NIV)

Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Matthew 4:10-11 (NIV)

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Jesus walked with and lived his life on earth as a man led by and in step with the Holy Spirit and when He ascended into heaven, He told us that He would send the Holy Spirit from the Father to lead and guide us in all things and in all truth so that we can keep in step with Him and thus fulfil God’s will, plan and purpose for our lives.

John 14:26 (NIV)

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

In the above verse Jesus tells His disciples that the Holy Spirit will, besides reminding them of everything He has said to them, will also teach them things – these are things that He wants them to know. For me this says very clearly that if I am not filled with the Holy Spirit and I am not living life in the Spirit, then I won’t be able to hear or know when He speaks to me, and I won’t know what He wants me to do!

When I think further about John 14:26 I am convinced that as a born-again Christian and because Jesus is the Word (John 1:14) it is imperative that I really know the Bible so that the Holy Spirit can remind me of everything that Jesus has already said because it is in the Word!

Everything that God wants for His children comes to us through Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit! That’s why we need Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, because without Him we can do nothing, and it will be impossible to have a true relationship with our Father in Heaven. Jesus is the vine that sustains us, enables us and empowers us by the Holy Spirit! Jesus is supreme!

Colossians 1:15-20 (NIV)

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

John 15:5-8

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

So, we can now start to see just how important it is for us as born-again Christians to align ourselves with and to keep in step with the Holy Spirit. Jesus has lots more to still tell His Church both corporately and as individual members. Without us being in step with the Holy Spirit it will be impossible for us to bear much fruit and thus proving ourselves to be true, born-again Christians – disciples of Jesus!

John 16:12-15 (NIV)

12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

When we, as born-again Christians, are not walking in step with the Holy Spirit, we are walking in the dictates of the flesh which is sinful, and this is not pleasing to God!

Romans 8:5-8 (AMP)

5 For those who are living according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh [which gratify the body], but those who are living according to the Spirit, [set their minds on] the things of the Spirit [His will and purpose]. 6 Now the mind of the flesh is death [both now and forever—because it pursues sin]; but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace [the spiritual well-being that comes from walking with God—both now and forever]; 7 the mind of the flesh [with its sinful pursuits] is actively hostile to God. It does not submit itself to God’s law, since it cannot, 8 and those who are in the flesh [living a life that caters to sinful appetites and impulses] cannot please God.

As Christians, in order to appropriate the victory that Jesus gave us at the cross and in order for us to truly call Him Lord, it is imperative for us to walk in step with the Holy Spirit every second of every day. Even though we are saved we should not keep on willfully sinning!

Romans 6:1-2 (AMP)

What shall we say [to all this]? Should we continue in sin and practice sin as a habit so that [God’s gift of] grace may increase and overflow? 2 Certainly not! How can we, the very ones who died to sin, continue to live in it any longer?

Walking in step with the Holy Spirit also means that we must be obedient to the Word bearing in mind at all times that Jesus is the Word (John 1:14). Scripture commands that we be doers of the Word and not just readers, being obedient to the Lord in all things! When we do this, what we do WILL BE BLESSED!

Luke 6:14 (NIV)

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?

James 1:22-25 (NIV)

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

Luke 11:28 (NIV)

He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

Below, from Romans 8, is a list of the benefits we receive in living life in step with the Holy Spirit for those who are in Christ Jesus. These 'benefits' empower us to produce fruit in keeping with repentance! They strengthen us as individuals and also empower us help build up and help our brothers and sister in Christ so that we can all reach spiritual maturity and the Church can reach unity in the Spirit! 

Ephesians 4:1-6 (NIV)

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

This list is by no means exhaustive! I would encourage you to read and study the entire chapter for yourself - it will change your life!

• There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus – verse 1.

• The Holy Spirit gives us life and freedom in Christ Jesus – verse 2.

• The Holy Spirit enables us to live life in the Spirit and not according to the flesh (our sinful nature) – verses 3 and 4.

• The Holy Spirit allows us to set our minds on what God desires for us – verse 5.

• The Holy Spirit allows us to set our minds on life and peace in Christ Jesus – verse 6.

• The Holy Spirit allows us to be pleasing in the eyes of God – verse 8.

• If we do not have the Holy Spirit in us, then we do not belong to Christ – verse 9.

• The Holy Spirit gives life because of righteousness – verse 10.

• The Holy Spirit will raise us from the dead as He did for Jesus – verses 10 and 11.

• If we are led by the Holy Spirit, then we are truly children of God – verse 14.

• The Holy Spirit brings about our adoption to sonship – verse 15.

• The Holy Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are children of God – verse 16.

• The Holy Spirit enables us to be heirs of God along with Jesus – verse 17.

• The Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses – verse 26.

• The Holy Spirit intercedes for us – verses 26, 27.

• The Holy Spirit knows our hearts – verse 27.

• It is the Holy Spirit that helps us to conform to the image of Christ Jesus – verse 29.

Through the Holy Spirit we can overcome our present suffering and look forward to future glory in Christ Jesus – Romans 8:18-30.

The Holy Spirit will enable and empower you to overcome your present sufferings, trials and tribulations, (remember the words of Jesus in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart I have overcome the world”) and lead you into the future glory that God intends for you.

Through the Holy Spirit we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus – Romans 8:31-39.

When we as Christians, are filled with the Holy Spirit and are obedient to His promptings and to God’s Word, we are overcomers! More than conquerors! For the Holy Spirit, just like Jesus, intercedes with God on our behalf which guarantees us victory in this world.

The Apostle Paul encourages us all to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit and constantly guided by Him and to always give thanks to God in all things!

Ephesians 5:18-21 (AMP)

18 Do not get drunk with wine, for that is wickedness (corruption, stupidity), but be filled with the [Holy] Spirit and constantly guided by Him. 19 Speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, [offering praise by] singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for all things, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 being subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Without walking in step with the Holy Spirit the Fruit of the Spirit and the Gifts of the Spirit will not be manifest in us and through us! Follow the way of love and eagerly desire all that the Holy Spirit has for us to the glory of Jesus!

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

1 Corinthians 14:1 (NIV)

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.

Prayer
Dear Father in Heaven
In the name of Jesus, I pray that you would help me to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit and to keep in step with Him, to dress in your full armour and to love my brothers and sisters in Christ as Jesus loves the Church!  Lord, let the fruit and gifts of the Spirit be manifest in me and through me that I may bring glory to Jesus here upon earth and for ever more! Amen.

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!

Last updated: 3 December 2022