“So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:” I Cor. 1:7
The nation of Israel waited for the promised King and Messiah. The believers in the upper room waited for the promised Holy Spirit. Today, the church is waiting for the promised “coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Come quickly Lord!
“I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?” Lk. 12:49
The NKJV says this verse with more clarity. “I came to send fire on the earth, how I wish it were already kindled.” What Jesus is saying is that the fire will be kindled at a later day. What day would that be? The day of Pentecost. That is the day the church received the baptism of the Holy Ghost and FIRE. We are called to be salt and light to this world. How often have you heard you are to be fire? Well, that is what you are to be so let it be kindled, let it burn.
“Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.” Ps. 71:8
Some Christians may say that this verse is an exaggeration. Who can praise and honor God all day long? If you know a man that is going to be marrying a virgin that he loves, ask him who is on his mind. Ask the family who is going on a great vacation in a few days what their minds are on. Ask young children a few days before Christmas what they are thinking about. You can’t help but to think about and ponder on that which you are excited about.
“And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.” Luke 4:16
Jesus returned to Nazareth after He was filled with the Spirit. He did not come to the synagogue trying to eliminate tradition and custom. He went there as was “His custom.” The difference is He brought authority and power with Him. So many Christians hate tradition. When tradition overrules the ministry of the Holy Spirit than I can see why. That is when tradition is definitely wrong. However, getting rid of traditions and customs in the church is not the answer. We need the power of the Spirit to take away the deadness of tradition. We need the Spirit to bring life to our assemblies so our traditions aren’t even noticed.
“And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.” Lk. 4:14
Jesus left Galilee a perfect man and returned to Galilee a perfect Spirit filled man. How we need the church to return “in the power of the Spirit.” How we need the church to return to her roots of Holy Spirit power and authority. Saints, please pray and believe for this.
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Rom. 10:9
One of the meanings of the word “believe” is to have conviction. Conviction is that inner voice or impression that insists you just can’t do something you shouldn’t do, or you know you just can’t go that way. If you obey your godly convictions, you won’t sin. If you don’t sin, you don’t have to face being convicted.
“As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” Psalm 17:15
Every person that has been born again has that inner witness of salvation because the Spirit of God has come to dwell in them. Yet we can learn from David, who was born 1000 years before Christ, what it means to believe. David had no privilege to have that inner witness like we do, yet you can read how confident he was that he would awake in the presence of the Lord. He knew of no salvation through Jesus Christ, yet he believed God that there would be salvation. The payment for sin was not yet understood, yet he believed in the mercy of God. Lord, increase our faith.
“And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.” Lk. 2:40
Sometimes we can have a hard time connecting grace to anything but salvation, especially when there is so much of the hyper grace gospel being preached around us. Jesus did not need to be saved, yet God put His grace upon Him. This should give us a better idea that grace isn’t just for the lost, but even believers need the continued grace of God in their life.
“And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.” Lk. 1:59-60
I think it is acceptable to say that tradition was very powerful in the days of John the Baptist. When Zacharias refused to name his son after him, but called him John instead, the family and neighbors marveled. Who has ever marveled over what someone named their child. Again, this shows how important tradition was in the lives of the people in those days. There is nothing wrong with tradition. Even Paul says that it is good for the saints to hold to the traditions he taught. Where tradition becomes a problem is when the word of the Lord is rejected so that tradition can remain intact. Sometimes we can miss out on the things of God because we insist on holding to the way we always do it.Besides that, it is a lot easier to write and say, John the Baptist than Zacharias the Baptist.
“The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.” Ps. 9:16
Even in judgment God’s displays mercy, for in judgment God reveals Himself to the wicked that they may see Him in His righteousness and repent.
