Be faithful to the commands of Jesus!
His commands span yesterday, today, and forever… not only for the early church in the Book of Acts.
Moses recorded by The Holy Spirit in Deuteronomy chapter 7:
9 “Therefore know that the LORD Your God, He is God, the faithful God Who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who Love Him and keep His commandments;
I can’t emphasize enough the importance of keeping the commands of Jesus. If you don’t, can you truly say that you Love Him and are diligent to keep His Word?
“For many are called, but few chosen.”
Jesus spoke to the Beloved Disciple who was called to write down His Words directed to the church at Ephesus in Revelation chapter 2:
4 But I have this against you: you have abandoned the passionate love you had for me at the beginning.
5 Think about how far you have fallen! Repent and do the works of Love you did at first. I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place of influence if you do not repent.
6 Although, to your credit, you despise the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also despise.
7 The one whose heart is open let him listen carefully to what the Spirit is saying now to all the churches. To the one who overcomes I will give access to feast on the fruit of the Tree of Life that is found in the paradise of God.
The church at Ephesus had lost its first Love. Their focus had gone from revelation to performing rituals as a substitute for true worship. Jesus despises rituals.
A ritual is a religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order. Are you being led by a ritual in place of being led by The Holy Spirit? The Nicolaitans promoted error in the church rather than the Truth revealed by The Holy Spirit.
What is the purpose of a lampstand? It is to provide light in the darkness. How is the lampstand replenished? By The Holy Spirit, the Holy Oil!
It is written by The Holy Spirit in Zechariah chapter 4:
1 And the angel who was speaking with me came back and awakened me, like a man who is awakened out of his sleep.
2 He said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with its bowl [for oil] on the top of it and its seven lamps on it with seven spouts belonging to each of the lamps which are on the top of it.
3 And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left side [supplying it continuously with oil].”
4 So I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord?”
5 Then the angel who was speaking with me answered me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”
6 Then he said to me, “This [continuous supply of oil] is the Word of the LORD to Zerubbabel [prince of Judah], saying, ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit [of whom the oil is a symbol],’ says the LORD of hosts.
Any person or church that does not acknowledge the importance and specific ministry of The Holy Spirit will be judged by OUR LORD.
Jesus spoke in John chapter 14:
25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you.
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
We are to be full Gospel, not 2/3 Gospel!
The Holy Spirit is to teach us all things in the Name of Jesus and, He will inspire to remember every Word Jesus spoke… including His Commands to us. The church at Ephesus had no excuse, neither do we!