Our Lead Partner; Oluwatobiloba Oshunbiyi |
There was a challenge in how the disciples understood the presence of God to be. They had a terrible reverence for that presence.
- The presence that killed Aaron’s two sons (Leviticus 10:1-2)
- Uzzah died when he grabbed hold of the Ark of the covenant (2 Samuel 6:6-7)
- The presence that could kill the High priest if he carnally entered the Holy of Hollies. He had to take many precautions to ensure he was ritually pure and still with a back up priest in case it all goes wrong (Exodus 28:33-35)
The presence had strict protocols, living that life was a dangerous one – I believe you will agree with me too.
Moses gave them very specific instructions on how to approach the mountain. They could not “come as they were” but had to sanctify themselves. They had to wear clean clothes and abstain from sexual relations. Once they got to the mountain, they could not contact(touch anything) or they would die.
- They saw the thunder, lightning and a thick cloud that covered the mountains greet then as them as they approached Mount. Sinai that morning. Smoke billowed from the mountain as though it was on fire and the whole mountain trembles violently (Exodus 19:9-19).
The Israelite saw this and never wanted to go anywhere near Mount. Sinai again. (Exodus 20:19 NLT).
Thus, when Jesus told the disciples God was going to dwell in them...... You know what that meant?
When Jesus started preaching the gospel of the Kingdom(the Father residing in you) you should see how confused and scared they would have been.
- Before you claim to love Apostle Paul than Apostle Peter or start some uneccesary comparison, Read this through again:
Apostle Peter was a inner circle of Jesus’ ministry, he was first John the Baptist’s disciple he was in the system with this understanding unlike Apostle Paul who had an encounter and entered into the kingdom!
It wasn’t an easy experience entering into the kingdom. They only saw the kingdom. (John 3:3,5).
They never had the kingdom life experience.
But then, how about our time.... Where we have all these information at hand but yet do not hold a reverence for this King and his domain. We know so much but experience so little if any at all. More churches less kings and priests(Kingdom).
The kingdom life:
After the day of Pentecost,.......
Pentecost; a Greek word meaning “the holiday of 50 days”.
Occurs 50 days after the first day of passover. It’s Hebrew name is Shauvot.
The Pentecost experience in Acts 2 wasn’t a phenomenon. It was just that the Apostles and the 120 disciples separated themselves and we’re baptized in the HolyGhost that very day.
This same day Jerusalem was filled with Jess from every nation celebrating Shauvot(or the feast of weeks). This Jewish holiday commemorates the giving of the torah(the Pentateuch: the first 5 books of the Bible) at Mount. Sinai
- So that the Apostles and 120 were baptized on the day of Pentecost doesn’t make it a Pentecostal phenomenon. A man can be baptized in the HolySpirit anytime, anywhere!
After the day of Pentecost, the early church gave themselves to constant study of the Word and Prayer. Do note it was not the Apostles alone that gave themselves to study and prayers. .. It was the whole church(early).
The church grew so fast that in a short period of time the disciples were not able to teach the Word anymore. Instead, they were consumes with feeding the people. It quickly became apparent that some things go had to change . They called believers together and said:
Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
(Acts 6:2-4 KJV)
- The qualifications the Apostles looked for in choosing men who would take their place to wait on tables were:
(a) Be full of faith
(b) Be full of the Holy Spirit
They didn’t care if the person had ever been a waiter before, they wanted to know how many miracles he had performed. Imagine this kind of Advert!! This is the kingdom life expected of us.
WAITER WANTED: Stephen a case-study.
Job duties: waiting tables and clean afterwards.
Qualifications: must be full of faith and power and have documented evidence of performing great wonders and miracles in the last six months.
The more amazing thing is that they found not one but seven men who met this qualification. without a lengthy search.(Acts 6:5)
- Can this happen today?
Look what happened when the Apostles put these men in charge of doing menial tasks of the early church.
- “ and the word if God increased, and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly. ......” (Verse 7)
Christians today are either full of faith OR full of the Holy Spirit.
We tend to be on one side of the other which is scripturally and spiritually wrong.
- It is when you are full of both, things start happening. This was evidenced in Stephens life.
We see the book Acts record that he performed great wonders and miracles (Verse 8)
Christians today argue about Salvation, we argue about hell, demons and Satan.
We argue over grace and works. We never enter the kingdom. We only see it from afar and talk about it. We claim to know so much about the Pauline epistle, some even call some sort: Paul theology, yet no kingdom experience. How then are we better than the disciples before they became Apostles?
We need to enter into a kingdom life today!
The kingdom life is a life of responsibility given by the grace received to work the works of him that has called us from darkness into light!
The kingdom life is of works by grace(the ability to work like God producing his dimension of results).
Have you ever read Jesus say in the Bible.... ‘greater works than his works we will do’? (John 14:12)
There will be a judgement of works (2 Corinthians 5:10). Works done under grace!
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--------------------------------- Information Desk ------------------------------------
Have you been blessed by this article?
There's more to Covenant of Life than this blog.
Why don't you see a list of our initiatives and look through which is best designed for you here.
Feel led to give to us or you want to partner with us? Click here.
Join our fellowship every 2nd Sunday, 3rd Friday & Sunday of the Month if you close to our Matogun Centre in Ogun State, Nigeria.
We will be glad to have you as you will be glad you came. Click here to read more about the Fellowship.