Message 22 - By Jerry D. Green
The FULLNESS of LIFE
The church was
born on the first Pentecost (50 days) after the resurrection of our Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ. What a grand day that was for a lost and dying world; for
on that day, having been bought and paid for in full by the offering of the
sacrificial Lamb of God, all the prophetic promises of God down through the
ages concerning the new covenant were fulfilled. All the promises made by the
mouth of His servants the prophets, including the new creation
prophesied by Isaiah, the new law prophesied by Jeremiah, the new
spirit prophesied by Ezekiel, and the pouring out of His Spirit,
spoken of by Joel and others were fulfilled (Joel 2:27-30). Yes, this
was indeed a grand day, but as with many other things, with the passing of
time, the truth of what happened on that day has been polluted or lost. so
let’s take a quick look at some of those happenings (Acts 2:1 thru 4)
and see what may have been lost.
First, lets
discuss the fire. What was the significance of the “cloven tongues like as of
fire” that sat upon each of them? I’ve heard many say, “We need the fire back
in our churches.” In fact, what they are saying is, “We need the jump, the
shout, the dance, the excitement, etc., that the flesh calls a good service.”
That however was not at all what the fire was about. Although the fire was the fulfillment of the prophesy of
John the Baptist that “…He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire” (Matthew 3:11; Luke 3:16), there was more
significance to the fire than just that. The fire, down through the years
before Christ, was always the result of God’s approval and acceptance of the
sacrifice. Aaron presented the sacrifice for the congregation at the dedication
of the first tabernacle and fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the
sacrifice. Gideon brought his present (his sacrifice) and there rose up fire
out of the rock and consumed it (Judges 6:18-21). David presented his
offerings (sacrifices) after he had numbered the people and the LORD answered
him from heaven by fire upon the altar and the plague was stayed (I
Chronicles 21:26). Solomon offered his sacrifice at the dedication of the
first temple and the fire came down from heaven and consumed it (II Chronicles
7:1). Elijah offered his sacrifice according to the commandment of the LORD
when he challenged the prophets of Baal and the fire of the LORD fell and
consumed all (I Kings 18:38). And though the scriptures do not say so, I
strongly suspect that fire proceeded out from the altar and consumed Abel’s
sacrifice. How else did they know which sacrifice that God had respect unto?
Regardless of that, the significance of the fire was always God’s approval and
acceptance of the sacrifice.
I Samuel 15:22 says that “…to obey (God) is better than (any) sacrifice…” we could ever offer and that is exactly what the 120 had done that
day, obeyed (Acts 5:32). They had received the commandment directly from
Jesus to go and tarry (sit, stay, wait) in Jerusalem until they had received
the promise of the Father. In spite of the persecution, the cares of
this life, and all other hindrances, they had obeyed the Lord. Because
of their faith and obedience, that perfect, sinless sacrifice, Jesus Christ,
approved and accepted of God, was accounted unto them. They had not brought
animal sacrifices that day. The animal sacrifices that the law had demanded
would never again be devoured by the fire of the LORD. This was God’s way of
showing and telling the world from thenceforth forevermore what the acceptable
sacrifice would be. Never again would fire from the LORD fall at the offering
of any other sacrifice and anything less than the body and blood of Jesus
Christ will never be accepted.
Secondly, “There came a sound from heaven as of
a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.” What was the significance of this wind? To really understand this
scripture we must look up the word that was here translated wind, in the
Greek. According to Strong’s Greek Dictionary the definition of this Greek
word, #4157, is “respiration”(i.e., breath) or “a breeze.” It is
translated both breath and wind in the KJV. However, in this
particular verse, it should have been translated breath. The wrong translation
of this word completely conceals the great truth of this scripture, for Genesis
2:7 says, “…God formed man of
the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and
man became a living soul.” Not only did
that earthen vessel come to life and start breathing, but something much
greater than that happened. Made in the image and likeness of God, man became
an eternal, living soul. God never intended that man should die, and because of
this, he will exist somewhere forever. However, because of the
acceptable sacrifice of “…the Lamb (the
Son) of God…,” it can be in the presence of
Almighty God; as a partaker of His glorious, abundant life. This is the
promise of God to all who hear, believe, and submit themselves unto the
glorious “gospel of Jesus Christ.” All unbelievers however, will have their
part in the eternal lake of fire (Revelation 21:8).
On that first
evening after His resurrection when Jesus came and stood in the midst of His
disciples, “…He breathed on them and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost” (John 20:22), but they did not receive at that time. Fifty
days later however, on the day of Pentecost, that saying was fulfilled. “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). That sound
which came “…from heaven as of a
rushing mighty wind…”
was in fact the rushing mighty
breath of God as He breathed the breath of life into His new born
church. They were born (again) of the infallible, quickening, life of
God himself. The life that is so much greater than the fallible
soul, of that first man Adam (I Corinthians 15:45). “This… (was) …that, which was
spoken by the prophet Joel” (Acts
2:16-21).
Thirdly, what was
the significance of the “…other tongues…?”
Surely it was a mighty sign to unbelievers, but the real significance of them
that day was the fact that people who spoke one language by the anointing or
overshadowing and in filling of the Holy Ghost, preached the gospel of
the risen Messiah to people who spoke many different languages, including their
own. They did this as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:4; 2:9
and 2:14). Yet for all this, many did not hear (I Corinthians
14:21-22; Isaiah 28:11-12).
There was
something even more important than the outward (physical) manifestations that
the Holy Ghost (or Holy Spirit) did that day. John 7:38-39 says, (Jesus speaking), “He that believes on me, as the scripture
has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water (John 4:14 and Revelation 22:1). (But [John speaking]
this
spoke He [Jesus] of the Spirit, which
they that believe on Him should [would] receive: for the Holy Ghost [or Holy Spirit] was not yet given; because that Jesus
was not yet glorified [crucified
and resurrected]).”
The ultimate
fulfilling of the promises of life to the church was and is the conversion
which is by the “pouring out (overshadowing) of His (creative) Spirit” of life
(Acts 2:17). For the scriptures say that we are justified by His blood,
reconciled to God by His death, and being justified and reconciled, we are “…saved by His life…” (Romans
5:8-10). So how do we receive this life that saves us? This
pure, holy, endless, sinless life which is identical in every way to the pure,
holy, endless, sinless life of Jesus? We receive it the same way that Jesus
did. We are born (again) of God the Father by the overshadowing of the pure,
holy, endless, sinless, creative, “dunamis” power of the
Spirit of God. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have
everlasting life *(Please
see the note at the end of this message.).” And Jesus says, “I am come that you might have life, and
that you might have it more abundantly,” (superior and beyond measure) John 10:10.
And again, John 6:53-54, Jesus says, “Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man,
and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whosoever eats my flesh, and
drinks my blood, has eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” Romans 1:16 says, “…the gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation (that is, being saved from death unto life) to every one that believes… (it; “…the gospel of Christ…”).” And
again, John 1:12, “But as many as
received Him (as the Christ), to them gave he power (the right, the authorization) to become the sons of God, even to them that
believe on His name”
(His authority, His
gospel). Once again, what is God’s
prescribed method for man to have the fullness of life? We must hear and
believe the true gospel of His Son, Jesus, the Christ. We must partake
of (place all of our faith in) the body and shed blood of His Son (the Lamb of
God) which we do through faith in the true gospel of Him (not the sacraments). And we must have the authorization of His Son
before we can receive that life which flows only from the Father Himself
(by His Spirit, by the Holy Ghost). For “…no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” ( John 14:6). “For the kingdom of
God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy IN the Holy
Ghost” (Romans 14:17). These things are
what constitute the fullness of life, and their fullness is only in
God Himself (in the Holy Ghost). Psalm 16:11
says of God, for “…in thy presence is
fullness of joy….”
This is the glorious life which God, by His Son Jesus Christ, has
prepared for those who love Him (John 14:3; I Corinthians 2:9; Isaiah
64:4).
The ultimate
fulfillment of the promises of life (until the second return of Jesus
when even our mortal bodies will put on immortality by that same Spirit of
Life) are brought about by the “…rivers of living water… the Spirit, which
they that believe on Him should receive…” (John
7:38-39; Revelation 22:17). This life (of which we speak) is the
end, the outcome, the result of truly believing the gospel of Christ. This overshadowing of the Holy Spirit is
the end, the outcome, the result of believing in the Son of God (John
3:16). And until He comes, this life
which is by the overshadowing of the Spirit of Life is the ultimate
effect, of eating His flesh and drinking His blood (John 6:53; John
7:37-39; Isaiah 55:1). Have you received the salvation which
is by that heavenly LIFE which comes only from the creator of all
things (Romans 5:10)? It would be a terrible thing to miss the most
wonderful thing that God (by His Son Jesus Christ) could ever have prepared for
a people; most especially considering the alternative.
In the early days
of the past century, there was a great physically manifested outpouring of the Spirit
of God. That is to say, there were TRUE signs, wonders, miracles, and gifts
by the operation of the Spirit of God. People didn’t have to be convinced by
the preachers that a miracle had taken place. This outpouring of the Spirit was
unto a people that were preaching repentance from sin and sanctification
by faith in the finished work of Calvary. The purity and power that was so
evident in the lives of these people caused many to desire and seek the Holy
Ghost (the Holy Spirit) without the Godly sorrow for sin
(true repentance), and ignorantly thinking that the receiving of the Holy Ghost
would clean up their lives. That is, they believed that the Holy Ghost
would do the work which only faith in the shed blood and broken body of
Jesus Christ can do. In so doing, they laid themselves open to receive any
and every false spirit that came along, for the Holy Spirit will never
occupy an unclean vessel. The vessel must first be totally cleansed and
purified by faith in the finished work of Calvary. This cleansing can take
place the moment one hears and believes the true gospel of Jesus Christ from
the heart. However, the “snow ball” effect of this erroneous thinking and
teaching soon filled the churches with false spirits, in so much that today, we
see much that is not true.
I do believe
there will be one more great physically manifested outpouring of the Holy
Spirit before the soon coming of Jesus, but it will be unto a people that
are hungering and thirsting after the kingdom of God (Jesus Christ) and His
righteousness with all their hearts (Matthew 6:33); a people that have
been sanctified by faith in the finished work of Calvary, “…hating even the
garment spotted by the flesh…” (sin, Jude
1:23); a people willing to suffer persecution for the sake of Jesus and
the (true) gospel of Him (Mark 8:35,10:29-30; Philippians
1:29). For, “…as then he that was
born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit” (Galatians 4:29). Keep in mind that it is the kingdom of God
and His righteousness which we seek, and that which is poured out of
God’s Spirit upon those who love and seek the truth will be good, pure, and
holy, for God is altogether good, pure, and holy. Therefore He can only give
good gifts unto His children (Luke 11:9-13; James 1:17), most
especially since in this case, God Himself is the gift.
The devil
however, has a counterfeit for everything that is true and real. False spirits
(strange fire) are very prevalent in the churches of today (Revelation
16:13-14). There are many spirits in the world but only one Spirit of
Life (the Holy Ghost or the Holy Spirit). Only
the love of the truth can assure that we receive the real Spirit
of Truth and Life. God is both the gift and the giver of Life
(John 4:10, 7:38-39). He is both the “…rewarder (and the reward) of them that
diligently seek Him”
(those who seek the truth,
not work to please Him, Genesis 15:1; Hebrews 11:6). I urge you
to join with me and many others who are earnestly seeking God for one more
mighty in gathering of souls before the soon return of Jesus. To see this we must
have another great outpouring of His Holy Spirit of Life. May the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ richly bless and reward you is our
prayer.
JDG
Message 22 - The FULLNESS of LIFE
-------------------------------------------------------------------
*Note!
Red
Letter editions of the New
Testament traditionally treat the six verses of John 3:16 thru 21 as
words spoken by Jesus. However, these six
verses seem to be speaking in the past tense (after the fact) as if John is
showing the fulfillment of the two previous verses (verses 14 and 15). We should know that there were no Red
Letter New Testaments prior
to the early twentieth century, and there were no punctuation marks in the
Greek text to indicate quotations. It
was men of the era of the first
Red Letter printings who decided which words were
spoken by Jesus, and which were not.
Today, principally because of our Red Letter Bibles,
most people take these six verses to
be the words of Jesus. Some however,
believe them to be the words of John, confirming the fulfillment of the record God gave of His Son. We agree with this assessment and have
elected NOT to print those verses in red, but rather, to inform the reader of this departure from tradition
and let you decide for yourself. Either
way you decide, they are still the words of God to man. JDG
-------------------------------------------------------------------
TOP
of PAGE
NEXT
MESSAGE
PREVIOUS
MESSAGE
JDG
MESSAGES
Keith Surface
MESSAGES
Leroy Surface MESSAGES
