We must not allow Our First Love to be lost!
Jesus and The Holy Spirit set THE standard by which the church is to operate in and reflect His Intent.
It is written by The Holy Spirit in Hebrews chapter 13:
7 Don’t forget the example of your spiritual leaders who have spoken God’s messages to you, take a close look at how their lives ended, and then follow their walk of faith.
8 Jesus, the Anointed One, is always the same—yesterday, today, and forever.
9 So don’t let anyone lead you astray with all sorts of novel and exotic teachings. It is more beautiful to feast on grace and be inwardly strengthened than to be obsessed with dietary rules (rituals and ceremonies) which in themselves have no lasting benefit.
Jesus spent forty days teaching the disciples concerning the Kingdom of GOD on the earth. They didn’t need teaching about the Kingdom of GOD in Heaven; they would get there soon enough. It was all about setting up the Kingdom on earth.
Luke recorded by The Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 1:
1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,
3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me;
5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
There should be no debate or discussion concerning the importance of The Holy Spirit and His ministry on the earth. Jesus established a very specific standard and example by the original generation for us to live by, for both present and future generations.
That is the measurement, the only one that holds up under critical observation or examination.
What did Jesus command us to do? To heal the sick, not pray for the sick. We must undo the impact of those who have taught a watered-down Gospel and embrace the Standard Jesus established with the first church in Acts.
Peter and John understood this command.
Luke recorded by The Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 3:
1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple;
3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.
4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.”
5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them-walking, leaping, and praising God.
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God.
10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Peter did not pray to GOD and ask HIM to heal the lame man. He commanded the lame man to be healed by the power and authority given to him (and us) in the Name of Jesus Christ.
We have a responsibility to walk boldly in Jesus’ commands. When we ask GOD to heal someone, we can blame the sovereignty of GOD if that person doesn’t get healed, thereby reflecting our responsibility. Getting our face before GOD will bring forth our breakthrough to walk according to the commands of Jesus.
FATHER, increase YOUR Presence and power in and through my life!
We are to preach the present reality of the message of The Kingdom of God with demonstration through our words and accompanying actions. The church in Acts set the standard for us to live by. HIS first and original Love for the church should be our first, passionate Love, never to be forgotten.